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Sao Francisco Charitas and Jurujuba

form the Ensenada (Bay) and are part of the 48 neighborhoods in which the Brazilian city of Niteroi is divided.

Sao Franciso’s name derives from the church consecrated to Saint Francis Xavier (in Portuguese: Sao Francisco Xavier) and references to it can be found as early as the 17th century. The Sao Francisco Ensenada, also known as "saco" de Sao Francisco" (roughly translated as Sao Francisco's "bag", on account of the Ensenada's shape), was an important source of fish for both the Indians and the Portuguese.

In the 1800s, an important road existed, connecting the neighborhood of Icaraà , across the Cavalao Hill (Big Horse Hill), to Charitas and then across the Viracao Hill to Piratininga, on the Ocean shore (note that Icarai Sao Francisco and Charitas have their shores on the Guanabara Bay).

No problematic slums exist in the neighborhood only some appearing poor fishermen houses.

The Sao Francisco waterfront is famous for its concentration of bars, restaurants and night clubs, being the beating heart of Niteroi's nightlif