Paulista Avenue

San Paulo...the city that never sleeps


Paulista Ave. - ©Christian Knepper/Embratur

San Paulo (São Paulo) is the most impressive city I've ever visited in the whole world.
Furthermore, after seing San Paulo everywhere else seems small.
Founded in 1554 by the Jesuits, it went from a sleepy Jesuit post -through the boom of coffee plantations and exports that followed from 1850 onwards - to the commercial, financial and industrial locomotive of today's Brazil.
In fact, it generates 30% of the total GNP (Gross National Product).

Here are some quick facts to help you grasp the concept of what a gigantic city means in this context...

* 2nd. largest city in the Western Hemisphere
* ranked 5th. on a global scale
* population as a whole is comprised of more than 70 different nationalities
* 10.000 miles of streets.....and increasing
* over 1 million Japanese nationals - Liberdade - which makes the largest concentration outside Tokyo
* 12.000 restaurants
* more than 100 theaters
* 70 mueseums
* 32 shopping centers
* a dozen cultural centers
* two Zoos
* two stadiums
* a superb Formula one race track



Ibirapuera Park - ©Christian Knepper/Embratur

San Paulo gives you the feeling of visiting the whole world in just one place.
You may sense some kind of cultural shock, be impressed or even intimidated by its size and activity level.
The business of San Paulo is business.
In fact, it's South America's financial center and 2nd. worldwide.
And food is taken as serious as business around here, because the city has the most sophisticated and varied cuisine you can think of.

You wouldn't want to miss Paulista Ave. - San Paulo's main street - and one of the favourite spots for Paulistanos.
Being a city landmark, Paulista Ave. has all the shopping and brands from every corner of the world.
And you won't get bored at nighttime either, as you have every possible nightclub imaginable, making San Paulo a premier destination after Rio's.

Some of the main city attractions include...
PARKS:

* Ibirapuera Park (1.5 million square meters)
* Trianon Park
* Playcenter
* Estrela's Dream House
* Zoo
* Safari Zoo



Ipiranga Museum - ©Christian Knepper/Embratur

MUSEUMS:

* Paulista Museum (Ipiranga)
* Contempoprary Art Museum
* USP Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
* USP Geosciences Museum
* Lasar Segall Museum
* Modern Art Museum
* Banco do Brasil Cultural Center
* Latin America Memorial
* Museum of Brazilian Art
* Museum of Image and Sound
* Herculano Pires Museum
* The Brazilian Home Museum
* Immigrant Memorial
* Station Pinacoteca
* State Pinacoteca
* Pautantan Institute

CHURCHES:

* São Bento Monastery and Church
* Sé Cathedral
* Imaculada Conceição da Luz Church / Museum of Sacred Art

For soccer fans, San Paulo is home of the most famous soccer teams in the country: Corinthians, São Paulo and Palmeiras, with two big stadiums...

* Pacaembu (The Paulo Machado de Carvalho Municipal Stadium)
* Morumbi (Cícero Pompeu de Toledo)
*



Vale do Anhangabaú - ©Christian Knepper/Embratur

This gigantic and fast paced city has options to suit every taste.
Please make sure to include São Paulo in your next journey to South America.


How to Get There:

By Air:
Congonhas Airport for national flights.
Guarulhos Airport for international flights (about 50 km. away)

By Road:

* SP-160 (Imigrantes)
* SP-280 (Castelo Branco)
* BR-116 (Washington Luiz)
* SP-330 (Anhanguera)
* SP-348 (Bandeirantes)
* BR-116 (Dutra)
* BR-381 (Fernðo Dias)
* SP-150 (Anchieta)


Where to Stay:

The city has over 60 thousand hotel rooms of diverse prices and categories, from the luxurious to small inns or pousadas.
Here are only some of them (middle of the road kind of thing)...

* Clarion Hotel Berrini Sao Paulo - R. Alcides Lourenco da Rocha 136 - Sao Paulo, 04571-110
* Excelsior Ipiranga Hotel Sao Paulo - Av. Ipiranga 770,Sao Paulo
* London Othon Flat Hotel Sao Paulo - Alameda Jau 135 - Jardins Sao Paulo
* Quality Hotel & Suites Congonhas Airport Sao Paulo - Rua Henrique Fausto Lancelotti, 6333 -Sao Paulo, 04625-005
* Riema Brasilia Santana Gold Hotel Sao Paulo - Rua Dr. Olavo Egidio 170, Sao Paulo
* Time Othon Flat Hotel Sao Paulo - Rua Hans Oersted - 115 Brooklin Novo
* Tryp Hotel Berrini - Rua Quintana, 934 - Brooklin Novo
* Tryp Hotel WTC Brooklin - Rua Heinrich Hertz - 14 Brooklin Novo

Daniel Moore
http://www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com

Tip: zoom directly to the most bigger level. You will be able to see Paulista Avenue; in south, Trianon Park and just in the other side of street, the top of the MASP.

This is the financial heart of São Paulo, biggest city of Brazil and third biggest city of the world. Many companies have their seats in there, as well in Avenida Berrini, also in São Paulo. It's one of the simbles of São Paulo and it has a park with a nice green area, the Trianon Park; and an important museum, MASP, which its building has a unique architeture.