Juiz de Fora is a university city in the hills of Minas Gerais, about 180 kilometres north of Rio de Janeiro. It sits at around 700 metres elevation in the Zona da Mata region, which gives it a milder climate than the coastal lowlands — cool enough in winter for locals to pull out their jackets with visible enthusiasm.
The city grew prosperous in the 19th century from coffee and textiles, and the centro still has some fine Belle Epoque architecture, particularly along Rua Halfeld, the main pedestrian street. The Museu Mariano Procópio, housed in a neo-Gothic villa surrounded by parkland, has one of the better regional art and history collections in Minas Gerais. The Federal University (UFJF) gives the city a youthful energy and a good bar and restaurant scene, especially around the São Mateus neighbourhood.
Juiz de Fora is not a typical tourist stop, but it makes a reasonable break on the road between Rio and the historic towns of central Minas Gerais.