Course  |  Brazilian regions and geography  |  Introduction to Brazil Online Training by VBRATA

Lesson 3:

The Southeast and São Paulo

São Paulo

São Paulo is the business heart of Brazil and South America. The economy of São Paulo’s state is larger than any other South American country’s economy.

The city is the largest in South America, almost twice the size of Rio, and the fourth-largest urban centre in the world. With a population of close to 46 million, it is the largest state in the Southern Hemisphere, while the metropolitan area’s population of close to 12.3 million puts it on a par with New York and not far behind the entire population of Australia or Scandinavia. It covers an area five times that of Paris.

In terms of its layout, São Paulo has more in common with Los Angeles than New York, in that, instead of having one clearly defined centre or heart, it is a sprawling metropolis with many different centres of activity.

Taking São Paulo’s size into account is important for any visitor because if you choose a hotel in the wrong part of town, you can get stuck in the traffic for hours as you try to cross the city.

Happily, São Paulo offers the best, largest and most diverse selection of hotels in South America, with all the major brands represented and spread across the metropolis.

If visiting on business, check with the people that you will be meeting as to where they are located. If they are near Brooklin Novo or perhaps Cerqueira Cesar, for instance, both are home to many of the city’s better and more interesting hotels.

Paulistas, as natives of the state of São Paulo are known, work hard, but they also play hard. They are aware that their city does not have the beauty and charm of neighbouring Rio, but that does not stop them from using their leisure time to the best, especially at night.

The city’s nightlife caters for every taste and budget, as well as every age group and sexual persuasion. Bars and clubs abound. The city is popular with clubbers, yet also offers world-class opera and ballet. It is a key stop on most "world tours", so on almost any given night, it will be possible to see a show involving leading Brazilian and international acts and artists.

São Paulo is a city that prides itself on its gastronomic excellence, offering not only the best of Brazilian cuisine, especially the barbecue houses, but also a genuinely eclectic mix of restaurants serving dishes from the four corners of the globe. For many food critics, São Paulo boasts the best selection of top restaurants in the world.

If the nightlife is unrivalled in Latin America, the same can also be said for the shopping. Visitors can choose between traditional and modern shopping centres, such as Iguatemi, Morumbi and Cidade Jardim, or exclusive boutiques, the most famous of which are found in and around Oscar Freire Street, the city’s Rodeo Drive.

São Paulo also offers museums and art galleries comparable to those you see in London or New York. It hosts sports world championships, including the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix, a race that more often than not decides the one of drivers and manufacturers. As you would expect, São Paulo has a world-class football programme – and football museum – and is home to many of South America’s most famous and successful clubs, including Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo, as well as Pele’s Santos, which is also the name of the nearby city that hosts Brazil’s major port.

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