Matão, Brazil

With a population of just 63,613, Matão is a small, isolated town in the São Paulo state that offers little in the way of modern conveniences. The city's sleepy, agricultural roots are still evident, with a railroad line built in the 1890s being one of its primary transportation links. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the city's name change from Senhor do Bom Jesus das Palmeiras to Matão in 1897 and the splitting off of the Dobrada district in 1964. For those seeking an authentic, rural Brazilian experience, Matão could be a good fit. But for urbanites craving the comforts of a thriving metropolis, this remote outpost is likely to fall short.