São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the world's 7th largest metropolitan area.The city is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous Brazilian state. It is also the richest city in Brazil. The name of the city honors Saint Paul. São Paulo exerts strong regional influence in commerce and finance as well as arts and entertainment. São Paulo is considered an Alpha World City.
The city is home to the São Paulo Stock Exchange, or BOVESPA, the Future Markets, and the Cereal Market Stock Exchanges. São Paulo has been home to several of the tallest buildings in Brazil, including the Mirante do Vale Building and Italy Building.
A famous nickname for the city is "Sampa." São Paulo is also known for its unreliable weather, the size of its helicopter fleet, architecture, gastronomy, and multitude of skyscrapers The São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport operates many domestic and international flights. People from the city of São Paulo are known as paulistanos.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
Sao Paulo overwhelms the senses with its sheer size. With over 10 million inhabitants, it is the world's third largest city and the largest in South America. Sao Paulo and its rival Brazilian city, Rio de Janeiro, have often been compared to New York and Los Angeles respectively. If Rio has gained fame for its striking natural setting, Sao Paulo's attraction lies in its people and its vibrant cultures. The Avenida Paulista's canyon of upthrusting skyscrapers only hints at the city's sources of energy. A more cosmopolitan city than its counterpart, Sao Paulo possesses significant ethnic minority communities, including substantial Japanese, Italian, and Arab and Lebanese Christian neighbourhoods.
(Source: Geographia.com)
São Paulo is considered -- both by Paulistanos and grudgingly by Cariocas -- to be the cultural capital of Brazil. The classical music scene is excellent, and the theater scene positively thriving. The majority of high culture takes place at just two halls: Teatro Municipal and Sala São Paulo.
Brazil's most modern, cosmopolitan city has much to offer in addition to its outstanding cuisines. Its museums are among the finest in South America, its surrounding coastline is graced with many lovely beaches, and its entertainment and nightlife have for years attracted some of the best performers in the world. In recent years, the city has evolved into a center for Brazil's own martial art, capoeira, whose dance-like motions are performed to music. The art has its own traditional instruments: drums and the berimbau, a stringed rod used to keep time. Originally developed as the martial art of the slaves of the Bahia, capoeira was banned by the ruling classes. To keep their art alive, the slaves turned capoeira into a dance, and the berimbau, which had warned of an approaching master, began to accompany the dance itself. As late as the 1920s capoeira was still outlawed and practiced only underground; today, it is a well-known and much-loved spectacle.
(Source: Geographia.com)
The city has many renowned landmarks, such as the Museu Paulista do Ipiranga, the gothic Metropolitan Sé Cathedral, the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), the Bandeirantes monument and Niemeyer's Ibirapuera complex Bienal, planetarium, and museums; and more recently the Estaiada bridge in the South Side. Paulista Avenue, in Midtown is the most important financial center in the country and South America.
MuseoPulista (Museo do Ipiranga): Museu Paulista, also known as Museu do Ipiranga, in São Paulo, was built between 1885 and 1890 as a monument to the proclamation of Brazil's independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822 by prince regent Pedro, who became Dom Pedro I, the first emperor of the new nation.
With its historic building, a collection spanning four centuries of Brazilian history, gardens inspired in Versailles, and a park, Museu Paulista is one of the Brazil's best loved museums and a top São Paulo attraction.
(Source: Gobrazil.about.com)
Important green area located in São Paulos city southern zone, in an area of 1,6 million m². Ibirapuera is more than a park, because it has museums, planetarium, Japanese Pavilion, Biennial Pavilion, Sports Coliseum, Cribs Museum, Modern Art Museum, Aeronautics and Folklore Museums, the Obelisco, the Flags Monument, Cooper hints, sport courts, cycling street. In the park live more than a hundred birds species, also it has lakes, aquariums, sources, plants nursery, herbarium and orchidarium.
Located in 143 hectares, it has a greenhouse for typical plants of Atlantic forest and another area for temporary exhibitions. It possesses cultural area for exhibitions and services, "Dr. João Barbosa Rodrigues" Botanical Museum, Lineu Garden and Mirror of water, orchidarium, Historical Palmeto (palms collection), lakes and collection of native and exotic trees, nascent of Ipiranga creek, among other natural attractions.
The Sé Square is literally in downtown, because there is located the point zero landmark of the city.
Address: between the 15 de Novembro and Direita Streets - da Sé Metro station - Downtown - São Paulo - SP
Also here is located the Metropolitan Cathedral, of Gothic style.
It is the main metro station because it is exactly in São Paulo's center. In their walls, it is possible to admire artistic murals.
Railway station located in the Julio Prestes Square and it is headquarters of the São Paulo's State Symphonic Orchestra. The Grande Hall has similar proportions with international concerts hall. Near to Luz Metro station.
Here the Father Anchieta was built the first construction of São Paulo's city.
Museum ticket price: R$5 (R$2,50 for students and third age). For others attractions in the Patio: free admission.
Schedule:
- Museum - Tuesday to Sunday, from 9h to 17h
- Library - Monday to Friday, from 13 to 17h
This viaduct begins in the São Bento Monastery and finishes in the Santa Ifigenia Church. It continues like Santa Ifigênia Street, and it is characterized by the musical and electronic instruments stores.
Anhangabaú Valley is located among the Chá and Santa Ifigênia Viaduct, between the Novo and Velho Centers. It has gardens, sculptures and fountains besides a beautiful panoramic view of important buildings.
Another attraction next to the Vale do Anhangabaú is the Art Museum of São Paulo.
Here we can find the USP Law Faculty, well known by the arches of their architecture and also to have given distinguished personalities to São Paulo and to the country's history.
Besides the Faculty, there are located São Francisco's Convent and the Third Order of the Penance Church. It is next to the Sé and Anhangabaú Metro Station.
Here is located Nossa Senhora da Assunção Church, better know like São Bento's Church or Monastery, famous for their Gregorian songs. In the underground of Largo São Bento, is located the São Bento Metro Station.
It possesses a great behavior ancient organ, one of the most important on the country and it is the reasons that inspired the São Bento Organ Festival. Also constantly it carries out philosophy and culture events.
Mosteiro de São Bento
Copan Building, it is a beautiful example of modern urban architecture in São Paulo. This building has a form like " S " and it has 1.160 apartments in 32 floors. In the low plant there is a church, a tailoring, 01 Chinese fast-food, 04 restaurants, 01 laundry, 01 cafeteria, 10 clothing and fashion accessories stores, 05 hairdressers, 01 estate agency, 01 clock and watch shop, 02 coffees shop, among other stores, al all there are 70 stores.
Next to the Republica Metro Station
Building Italy has 44 floors and an underground, 19 elevators, in 52.000 square meters of builted area. In the first three floors it has: theater, gallery, a club (Italian Circolo), a bar-restaurant in the terrace and offices.
São Paulo's Municipal market offers diversity of products, inclusive out season spices and fruits.
It possesses 316 stands and parking. Attract attention the gothic style of 55 German vitral.
It is located in the downtown periphery, between the 25 of Março and Parque D. Pedro II streets; next to 25 of March Street and São Bento Metro Station.
The Luz Station was built due the necessity to transport coffee. It is preserved by the organism named Historical, Artistic, Archaeological and Tourist Patrimony Defense Council (Condephaat).
Today it receives suburban trains. It is in the downtown periphery, at the end of Cásper Líbero Av.
Near to the Station is located the Luz Monastery near to the Sacred Art Museum, with objects of the colonial epoch.
The Luz Park possesses a total area of 113.400m² with lake in malt cross form and surrounded by Greek-Roman statues, cascade with grotto, gardens, infantile park with sand area.
Here we find the Museum of the city and it is an example of the XVII century architecture. It was a property of D. María Domitilia de Castro Canto e Mello, Marquise of Santos.
Next to Sé Metro Station.
Palacio dos Bandeirantes is the São Paulo's Government seat. The Palace is an Italian style construction of the decade of the forties and it takes that name in homage to the people that enlarged the frontiers of the country.
It has an admirable patrimony of art works, the Plates Saloon, the Baroque Saloon and the Governors Gallery. It possesses access for people with special necessities.
(Source: Brasilcontact.com)
If Sinatra had known about São Paulo, he would never have given the "city that never sleeps" title to New York. Most Paulistas won't even set foot in a club until midnight. Take a cab into Vila Olímpia around the witching hour, and you'll find yourself in a traffic jam formed by everyone just heading out for the evening.
Less casual than Cariocas, Paulistas love to dress up when going out. Women are partial to black or other dark colors. Men are less formal. Good casual is fine, but jeans and running shoes likely won't make it past the door at many clubs.
To catch the big names in Brazilian music, São Paulo is the place. The city gets more of the stars, playing more often, than any other city in Brazil. São Paulo also offers a variety of theater, dance, opera, and classical music. An excellent source of arts and entertainment information is the Guia da Folha, an entertainment guide published in the Friday Folha de São Paulo newspaper.
Vila Olímpia is where the 18- to 30-year-olds go for nightlife, with a number of large dance clubs and some of the city's best bars. Vila Madalena is more in vogue with the 25- to 45-year-olds who enjoy bars and restaurants more than dance clubs.
Attention! The word boate or boite used in Rio for a nightclub or dance club refers in São Paulo almost exclusively to a strip or sex club.
(Source: Frommers.com)
What do the locals eat, and where are the best places to go for a truly Brazilian meal? What is Guarana, and why do the Sao Paolistanos love to drink it? Discover it!
The array of nationalities living in Sao Paulo have made it a legendary city among gourmands: Japanese, Italian nuova cucina, Brazilian, Chinese, Jewish, and Arab restaurants are all familiar parts of the city's landscape. Brazil's famously good beef is put to good use at the numerous rodizios and churrascarias. Succulent, roasted cuts of meat are circulated around the tables and cut to patrons' order. In fact, people often visit Sao Paulo just to dine out. The Jardins district is the center of the dining scene, and thus the center of the Sao Paulo social scene. Paulistanos eat late--restaurants often don't begin serving until 9pm or 10pm, and it is common for them to stay open until 3am.
(Source: Frommers.com)
With high temperatures usually staying well above 24°C / 75°F or 25°C / 77°F for the entire year and peaking at more than 30°C / 86°F in February and March, the climate in Sao Paulo is certainly very mild, with sunny weather and wet spells.
The Sao Paulo climate tends to be described as both subtropical and humid, with rainy weather being most likely between October and March. January and February see the highest precipitation levels in San Paulo, averaging 239 mm / 9.4 inches and 215 mm / 8.5 inches respectively, compared to the driest months of July and August, which experience around 40 mm / 1.6 inches per month.
(Source: World-guides.com)