It lies in a valley by the Sapucaí river and has terrain elevations ranging from 827 to 1500 metres, occupying an area of 290.45 km2 (112.14 mi2), with a population of 97,334 people (2020 est).

The city is a center with direct influence over 14 other municipalities of a region (called "Microregião do Sapucaí") that contains 6% of the population of Minas Gerais state.

There are industries of auto parts, fiber optics, textile, electronic components, helicopters (Helibrás),[2] and military weapons (IMBEL).

[3] In agriculture, most of the production is coffee, banana, potatoes, and is centred in the vicinity of Maria da Fé city where the climate is cooler.

According to historians Geraldino Campista and J. Armelim Bernardo Guimarães, the name Itajubá means "water that falls on the rock" or "waterfall".

The current mayor is Christian Gonçalves Tiburzio e Silva, elected by popular vote in 2021 of the DEM party.