São Paulo

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the 4th largest metropolitan area in the world, with 15 million residents.

The city shelters immigrants from many countries. In São Paulo you will see descendants of Africans, Native Indians, Italians, Portuguese, Spanish, Jews, Arabs, Japanese, Polish, and Slavic people, just to name a few. They live in harmony and many say that there is no racial tension in Brazil.

São Paulo is also known as the most industrious city of Brazil. Its motto is: "the city that cannot stop". The "paulistas", or natives of São Paulo, are said to be business-minded, practical and always in a hurry.

Founded by Jesuit priests in 1554 in a place known today as “Pátio do Colégio”, the city began as a jesuit mission in a high plateau about 45 miles from the sea. For 300 years, São Paulo seemed destined to remain a small town. But the Brazilian industrial revolution stormed in and dragged the city to the forefront of Brazilian economic progress.

      

As it grew wealthier, mainly due to its surrounding coffee plantations, the city developed a solid industrial basis. São Paulo is still today the heart of Brazil's economy, providing more than 30% of the country's GNP (Gross National Product).

   

Marked by the mingling of several cultures, paulistas are known for their openess to new ideas and ways of life. A good example of this oppenness is its cuisine. São Paulo boasts the greatest variety of restaurants in Brazil, and it is said to be one of the best cities in the world for dining out. You can virtually find any kind of food, anytime of the day or night. But the most typical restaurant in São Paulo is still the traditional "pizzaria". Pizza is the official dish of São Paulo, and it is not uncommon to find restaurants offering more than fifty varieties of it.

SOCCER TEAMS

São Paulo hosts some of the best teams of Brazil. Click on the logos to see their websites (in Portuguese)

     

AVENIDA PAULISTA



Paulista Avenue is the financial center of Brazil. It also offers great cultural attractions, such as museums, theaters, movie theaters, parks, and hundreds of fine restaurants. City dwellers consider that this avenue reflects the character of São Paulo. Check below to see how this avenue evolved through time.

MUSEUM OF ART OF SÃO PAULO - MASP
Founded in 1947 by Assis Chateaubriand, this museum has an impressive collection of major works of art. The building itself has been recognized internationally as an important architectural landmark. You can visit the museum's site at www.masp.art.br.

IPIRANGA MUSEUM
Inaugurated in 1895, this museum is located near the site where D.Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, proclaimed the country's independence from Portugal, in 1822. It hosts an important collection of colonial and imperial art. Its library and surrounding gardens are also worth a visit.

LIBERDADE DISTRICT

"Liberdade" is the name of the most traditional Asian quarter in São Paulo. Occupied initially by Japonese immigrants, "Liberdade" looks like a small piece of Japan transplanted to Brazil. It boasts the single largest Japanese community outside of Japan. It is an excellent place for anyone interested in Asian food and culture.