São Paulo, Brazil

The city of São Paulo is located in southeastern Brazil. It was founded in 1554 by the two missionaries José de Anquieta and Mandel de Nubrega, who wanted to Christianize the local population.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, many explorers called banderantes crisscrossed the new lands of South America in search of gold and precious stones. So it was thanks to these banderantes that Brazil grew not only as a territory, but became a leading country in gold and gemstone mining. The city of São Paulo also has several monuments in tribute to these people. At the end of the 19th c. São Paulo became a center for coffee exports through the nearby port of Santos. Many emigrants from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Japan and other countries began to arrive here, attracted by the eternal dream of better profits and a better life.

São Paulo now has 11 million people and is the largest city in Brazil and in the Southern Hemisphere. It is located 400 km from Rio de Janeiro and 1030 km from the capital Brasilia. The city's main economic activity is now in the service sector. There are a large number of banks law companies, multinational companies and corporations. One of São Paulo's iconic landmarks is the Largo San Francisco Law School, which is now a faculty of the city's university. This school was established in 1828 by Emperor Pedro I because of the increased need for lawyers and politicians for the country.

A curious fact about the city is that the Tropic of Capricorn runs through it. It rains a lot, the temperatures are around 20-25C all year round. There is a wide variety of deciduous evergreens. Characteristic of this huge city are the special motorways that provide access to the various parts of the city. São Paulo is also famous for its 400 helicopters, for which the city has about 100 landing sites. The different nationalities and religions do not prevent São Paulo from being a beautiful, orderly and economically developed city.

São Paulo's landmarks include the Museum of Art, the Gothic Cathedral of São Paulo, the Octavio Frias Bridge, some of the tallest buildings in the country such as the Miranti do Valle and the Edifisiu Italia.