Located in the southeast of Brazil, São Paulo is the most populous city in the southern hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. Formerly a modest missionary outpost, she became the economic lung and cultural of the country. Welcome to the fascinating city of São Paulo. Here is the city which we call Sampa. Here are its inhabitants who call themselves the Paulistanos. And here is what fascinates them  intense coffee  named cafezinho, football or rather futebol, of course the carnival. São Paulo may not have the famous beaches of Rio,
but its culture is radiant.

In this energetic and creative city, you will dive to discover almost a hundred museums and taste flavors from around the world in some 20,000 cafes and restaurants. Since São Paulo is so excessive, you will start at the very beginning of its history. The botanical gardens of Parque do Estado, near the airport, preserve part of the Atlantic rainforest which once covered the Brazilian coast. The landscape was transformed with the arrival of the Portuguese come to convert the Amerindians to the Catholic faith. By visiting the Pátio do Colégio, in the old center, you will stand at the exact location where the city was founded by the Portuguese Jesuits in 1554. The site of their main church, Praça da Sé, now houses the neo-gothic metropolitan cathedral, with its Renaissance dome


which was inspired by the cathedral in Florence, Italy. In the 17th century, São Paulo grew rapidly, a gold rush that attracted miners to the region. Then came the African slaves, imported to work on sugar cane and coffee plantations. The 19th century brought more Europeans, and the Japanese followed in the 20th century. The resulting melting pot is now the driving force of the Brazilian economy. The Centro, the oldest district of the city, is home to the largest stock exchange in Latin America since 1890. While across the street is the richly decorated hall of the headquarters of the former state bank, the Altino Arantes skyscraper.

Located 5 kilometers south, Paulista Avenue was built thanks to the wealth of the first coffee barons. Financial artery of the country and major road, this boulevard lives at the rate of approximately one and a half million pedestrians per day. In addition to investing in its financial economy, São Paulo also favors its creative economy, making it one of the most flourishing cultural centers in Brazil. 

Paulista Avenue houses the São Paulo Art Museum, which seems to defy gravity. Inside, you will contemplate the paintings of great European masters like Van Gogh, Raphaël and Picasso, as well as those of the best Brazilian artists. This remarkable museum belongs to the people and, according to the wish of the architect, its modern architecture "Makes the same area of ​​public space as it borrowed", leaving the place under the building accessible to the public. Finance and creativity go hand in hand at Banco do Brazil, a historic financial institution home to one of the most important cultural centers in the country.

In a city where over a million cars travel hundreds of kilometers of interconnected highways every day, the Viaduto Santa Ifigenia, reserved for pedestrians, is a breath of fresh air. This Art Nouveau style viaduct connects the old and the new center. Nearby you will find the municipal theater, a century-old Beaux-Arts style building dedicated to ballet, at opera and other stage shows. This richly decorated building was inspired by the famous Garnier opera, in Paris. Other cultural sites await you to the north, in the park district of Luz. The historic Júlio Prestes train station was transformed into an elegant and renowned cultural center.

By visiting the large rooms of this monumental building, don't miss the Sala São Paulo, a large concert hall covered with woodwork and with a modular ceiling. The acoustics thus obtained are considered as being able to compete with the famous concert halls of Vienna and Berlin. Nearby is the oldest art museum in the city, the Pinacoteca of the State of São Paulo. You will take your time here, because this beautifully renovated art museum contains almost 9,000 pieces, including many priceless Brazilian collections.

The best place to discover Brazilian cuisine is the Mercado Municipal, located nearby, with its appetizing stalls of locally grown fruits, cheeses, meats and other local specialties. Seated on the mezzanine, you will observe the animation below and admire the richly decorated windows of this impressive market hall. In a completely different genre, the Ibirapuera auditorium is an attractive building designed by Oscar Niemeyer, a prolific Brazilian architect. It is part of Ibirapuera Park, south of the city. During your visit