São Paulo

São Paulo, the capital of the State, is considered the biggest city of South America and maybe the biggest population among all Ibero American capitals. It was founded in 1554 by Jesuits, although it was in the 19th century when the development of the city took place with the coffee's cultivation. It has welcomed immigrants from around the world, which has highlighted races and ethnic mixture, thus influencing the cultural and economic life of the city. The intense cultural life of the capital had its starting point in the 20's, when it was the scenery of the Week for Modern Art, opportunity to show the renovation of Brazilian modern art. Nowadays, this dynamism is expressed in the museums located at the capital and in the different options the city offers to visitors. São Paulo's cultural life is expressed in different ways; replica of Jesuits buildings and modern skyscrapers, long avenues, viaducts, famous parks, gardens, amusement parks, theaters and shows. On the other hand. You can find museums like the Art Museum of Sao Paulo, the State's Art Gallery, and museums exhibiting modern, contemporaneous art. The historical center comprises a triangle formed by the Plaza de la Sé, the Estación de la Luz and the Plaza de la República. Here visitors may find the oldest buildings and the best place to star a tour. The highest construction is the Italian Building (Edificio Italia) which on top of its 41 floors has a nice restaurant. The city has an integrated industry, a network of services connected to the main world centers and wide services for information, leisure, tourism and culture. Regarding leisure options, there are plenty of trade centers, restaurants, night clubs, bars, discotheques, coffee shops, hotels and many other entertainment facilities in the city. Surrounding the city and very close, visitors can enjoy the beaches and mountains. Boicucanga is one of the most visited places during the weekend, Guaruja is the closest beach to Sao Paulo, the biggest and most important of the state and the Port of Santos, which is one of the most important ports in South America.