São Paulo, "the
world's fastest growing city," is the major financial and business
center of Latin America, responsible for half of Brazil's GDP. (Gross
Domestic Product)
The city has the best services and transportation infrastructure, including
two airports. Cumbica International Airport, located in Guarulhos, about
30 km from São Paulo's downtown, offers regular national and
international flights. The airport nearest to
downtown is Congonhas, which operates shuttle, regional and international
flights.
São Paulo offers visitors a great variety of attractions. There
are approximately 70 museums, more than 200 cinemas, 50 theatres, art
galleries and cultural centers, and an exciting nightlife.
The Art Museum of
São Paulo (MASP) is located in the middle of the Avenida
Paulista and is the most important museum of Western art in Latin America.
It features works of Bosch, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas and Brazilian
masters like Di Cavalcanti, Portinari
and Tarsila
do Amaral. On the museum grounds, many musical shows are performed,
and a large antique fair takes place each Sunday.
The Ipiranga Museum
displays an important sculpture "The Independence of Brazil"
marking a key moment in Brazil's political history, when the country
gained independence from Portugal. It is situated on the back of Independence
Park, creating the mood of a European palace.
Pinacoteca do
Estado is the oldest museum in São Paulo and a magnificent
example of 19th century architecture.
The Municipal
Theatre is the main venue for dance productions and national and
international music concerts, like Sala
São Paulo with capacity for more than 1500 people, if had
presented in the Sala São Paulo great Orchestras as the Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra and others.
Restored in 1991, it has preserved a baroque style as well as components
of Art Nouveau.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Sé is the main church of the city and
features the largest organ of Italian origin in Latin America. The
monastery of São Bento has neo-Gothic elements and contains
many rare artifacts.
Cultural
spaces like the
Latin America Memorial, the
São Paulo Cultural Center and Oscar Americano Foundation
offer a daily variety of events for all interests.
São Paulo offers many leisure spaces, with 23 public parks including
1.6 million square meter Ibirapuera Park that is the most famous and
important in São Paulo. It shelters the Bienal Pavilion and the
Contemporary Art Museum.
The park also stages shows and concerts of popular and classic music
every weekend.
The São Paulo Zoo is considered one of the best in the world.
Simba Safari shelters many animals from Africa such as antelopes, zebras,
monkeys, tigers and lions.
30 km from São Paulo is Embú, a tiny and charming town
with colonial-baroque architecture, where artisans exhibit and sell
handcrafts. Masterpieces from the slavery era can be found at the artisans'
workshops.
São Paulo is known as a city that doesn't sleep, offering its
visitors a thrilling nightlife. The network of cinemas is large and
modern. Theatres present important plays by national and international
authors. With restaurants, which often close late, bars that don't close,
and fabulous dance clubs, the city is rich with options for all interests
and tastes.
The
city also has 29 shopping malls, spread over several districts. The
crafts fairs, art galleries and antique shops are also a smart choice.
With a privileged location, São Paulo is situated a short distance
from wonderful beaches, mountains and ecological reserves.
The capital of fine cuisine, leisure and culture is also the financial
and commercial center of Brazil. About 2.5 million tourists visit São
Paulo annually, with the majority coming to attend fairs, seminars and
conventions.
Anhembi complex
is the largest business conference center in Latin America. Other modern
convention centers and exhibition halls in the city are Rebouças
Convention Center,
Bienal Pavilion (in Ibirapuera), Expo Center Norte, SP Market Center,
as well as conference centers at some of the best hotels: Transamérica,
Intercontinental, Renaissance, Caesar Park and L'Hotel.