Serra () is a municipality in the state of EspÃÂrito Santo, Brazil. Bordering the north of the state's capital, Vitória, the municipality is part of the Greater Vitória metropolitan area. Its population was 520,653 (2022) and its area is . It is the most populous municipality in the state, ahead of the capital.
Serra, the seat of the municipality, is to the north of the characteristic Mestre ÃÂlvaro mountain which juts out of the coastal lowlands, and which is said to look like a small mountain range or "serra", in Portuguese, which is where the town and municipality got its name.
Among the municipality's cultural attractions, several institutions stand out. One of the main cultural conservation sites is the Serra Historical Museum, opened in 2007 in the mansion that once belonged to the family of Judith Leão Castello Ribeiro, the first woman to become a representative in Brazil. The collection includes documents, furniture, objects (such as pipes, binoculars, and mirrors), works of art, and items related to the history of its illustrious residents and the constitution of the municipality.
Another renowned institution is the Casa de Congo, an important institution in the state of EspÃÂrito Santo, inaugurated in 2000 by the Secretariat of Culture (Secult), which aims to bring together the collection and memory of Congo in the municipality.
The municipality also boasts two municipal libraries, in addition to the library affiliated with the Municipal Council, a mobile library, and two community-based libraries, that is, independent of the state government and without ties to the private sector.
Serra has five districts (distritos): Serra-Capital (or Serra-Sede), Carapina, Calogi, Nova Almeida and Queimado. Among those districts there are 118 neighbourhoods (bairros).
Another important urban area is that of JacaraÃÂpe, on the coast 20 km north of Vitória. JacaraÃÂpe is very well known for surfing championships, and is a weekend beach used by capital dwellers. Other smaller fishing villages such as Manguinhos are also close enough for day trips and are popular destinations for the locals.
The coastline of the municipality is protected in part by the Costa das Algas Environmental Protection Area, created in 2010.