File:(PANORAMA) Paranapiacaba (5767018737).jpg

A panoramic view of the village with its major landmark, the Clock Tower, on the left side of the picture.

About the Village: It is a historical village and railroad station nestled in the Atlantic rain forest at the top of the Serra do Mar mountain range, the last stop before trains descend the Serra do Mar to the coast.

It was established as a company town for the employees of São Paulo Railway, a privately owned British railway company. This railway allowed the transport of cargo and people from the city of São Paulo to the port of Santos. The word paranapiacaba means "where you will find the sea" in Tupi.

Most of the village was built by English men (Many of the materials came from Europe) and the historical part of the village is in the typical English style with colourful houses made of wood. There is a scale replica of Big Ben on the main train platform, that was part of the original train station and the rail yards are somewhat of a train graveyard, with many rusting old wrecks that one can look through. There is also a railroad museum.

It is a very pleasing place both for railfans (It's the only place in Brazil that still has electric locomotives moving freight, and it's a main corridor) and nature lovers, providing easy access to the rain forest of the Serra do Mar.