Four states make up the southeast: Rio De Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. Brazil's urban centers are concentrated here. Starting with Rio, the surrounding exuberance of the area's natural beauty contrasts with the modern buildings and thrilling metropolitan air. Rio is well-known for the elán of its frenzied nightlife and exciting cultural atmosphere. It's home to the most famous Carnaval celebration in the world, renowned for its seemingly never-ending parade and the escolas de samba (samba schools). Attractions like Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado, the Botanical Garden, and the lush Tijuca Forest make Rio an idyllic getaway. The state of Rio de Janeiro also boasts beautiful beaches in Angra dos Reis, Búzios, Cabo Frio, historical buildings in Parati and a mountainous region with the cities of Petrópolis (the renowned imperial city), Teresópolis and Friburgo.
 
In the small towns of Minas Gerais, you can immerse yourself in Brazil's colonial past, seeing Baroque architecture and fascinating works of art in the historical cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, São João del Rey, Tiradentes, Sabará, Diamantina and Congonhas. Minas Gerais is a vast state rich in agricultural and mining resources. Just about every mineral in the world can be found in here; prospectors detected the area's rich resources in early colonial times. Today, you can still discover the most beautiful precious and semi-precious stones from area mines. The region is also known for the medicinal waters of Caxambu, Araxá and São Lourenço.
 
In Espírito Santo, just north of the state of Rio de Janeiro, try the famous muqueca capixaba, a spicy seafood dish, and visit the historical cities of Vila Velha and Anchieta just south of Vitoria, the capital. The beaches are great for surfing, and are noted for their mineral-rich monazitic sands such as those seen at the resort town of Guarapari. Inland, there is a wealth of ecological reserves and farmlands.
 
In São Paulo, Latin America's largest metropolis, one finds the characteristics of five continents united in a modern cosmopolitan melting pot. Founded by Jesuits in the 1550s, the town remained fairly small until industrialization in the late 1800s. Immigrants of European, Japanese and Arab origin built industrial and commercial empires in São Paulo, bringing with them their native cultures and cuisines, transforming the city into a jolly circus of ethnic neighborhoods, diverse restaurants, stores and cultural institutions such as the theatre and music. National and international business dealings are conducted here, São Paulo is the site of many important conferences, congresses and trade shows every year. On the northern shore, one encounters serene beaches set amongst breezy palm trees and blue waters at idyllic places like Ilhabela, Ubatuba and São Sebastião.