Sobral, Brazil

This sleepy municipality of 127,489 residents hardly seems like the stuff of scientific legend. Sobral's economy is propped up by agriculture, services, and some manufacturing - hardly a bustling metropolis. The climate is hot almost year-round, with temperatures ranging from 22-36°C, which could be a persistent headache for some. But the city's claim to fame is its role as the site of a 1919 solar eclipse observation that helped prove Einstein's theory of relativity. Sobral is home to a handful of public and private universities, but the bureaucracy involved in daily life may be a turnoff for some. Overall, this unassuming city in northeastern Brazil is best suited for those seeking a slower pace of life and a chance to bask in its modest scientific legacy.