Sao Paulo is the biggest city in South America. It gets its name from St Paul and was established by two Jesuit priests and an Indian tribal leader in 1554. This was shortly after the very first Portuguese settlement in the new world was built just 70 km away where the coastal town of Santos now stands. It did not grow much until the late 19th century when large numbers of immigrants began to settle here. By 1960 they led the population to overtake that of Rio de Janeiro.
Sao Paulo is a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant population. It is known for its restaurants and these are influenced by the diverse population which comprises of many Italians, Portuguese, Africans and Syrian and Lebanese Christians. There are also many Japanese, Germans, Chinese and others. Business is also what drives the city and most of the important industries in the country are controlled from here.
As the most prominent city in the region is also attracts many prominent cultural and sporting events. As would be expected there is a passion for football and 3 major teams are based here and there are many top stadiums. In 1950 it was one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup and will be again in 2014. Interlagos has been home to the Brazilian Grand Prix every year since 1990. The Sao Paulo Fashion Week and Bienal are also well known internationally.
A jungle of dense sky scrapers it is third in the world for the number of high rise buildings. Many people use their own cars so traffic tends to be congested. Perhaps this is the reason why it is also known to have the largest helicopter fleet in the world.
Visitors that are interested in local art and culture would find what is considered to be one of the best collections in Museo de Arte Sacra & Jardim da Luz. Located in the labyrinths of a baroque monastery it is a haven of tranquility and one of the best representation of colonial artifacts. For fine art from both within the country and Europe one can visit the remarkable Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP).
The centre of dining is in the Jardim district and this is also therefore the centre of the social scene. There is a tendency to eat late and many of the restaurants stay open till 3am. Many popular musicians are attracted to the city and ensure a vibrant night life. The art of Capoeira has also become popular here. This forbidden martial art was turned into a dance which is still a very popular form of entertainment and is often showcased locally.
If you are not into the night life you could relax in one of the many parks. One of the most well known is the Parque do Ibirapuera which also houses the planetarium. Shopping is also very popular and the largest shopping centre in Latin America can be found here too. For a more traditional experience you could try the Praca da Republica that runs from 8am till 2pm on Sundays.
A yearly carnival also takes place and on the Friday and Saturday night there is a parade of samba schools. In May of each year since 2005 there has also been a 24 hours non-stop cultural festival which has ongoing performances in a number of locations. The Virada Cultural is arranged by the Sao Paulo municipality.
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