Before the Portuguese first arrived, the area was inhabited by the
Tupinambás to the north and the Tupiniquins to the south. Both tribes were
separated by the Serra de Boiçucanga (
Boiçucanga
Mountain range), located 30 km south of the city centre. Both
tribes disliked each other. When the French arrived in Brazil via the Guanabara
Bay and confronted the Portuguese, the Tupiniquins united with the Portuguese
and the Tupinambás, with the French. This battle between them was witnessed and
narrated by Hans Staden.
The municipality was named after Saint
