Santa Maria de Jetibá is a mountain town in central Espírito Santo, about 70 km from Vitória, and one of the most unusual cultural pockets in Brazil. It was settled by Pomeranian immigrants in the 19th century, and East Pomeranian is still part of daily life here in a way that has almost disappeared in Europe.
The town is rural, cool by Brazilian standards, and more interesting for culture than polish. The Pomeranian Immigration Museum gives the basic story, but the stronger impression comes from timber-frame houses, Lutheran churches, family farming, and the sound of a Low German dialect in shops and markets.
The surrounding municipality adds a scenic reason to stay longer. Pedra do Garrafão rises in the hills, the Canaã Valley gives the place its postcard landscape, and the Festa Pomerana in May turns local identity into a public celebration.