Sao Paulo
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Wikipedia-Article "Sao Paulo"
- For other meanings, see São Paulo (disambiguation).
- The title of this article contains the character ã. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Sao Paulo.
São Paulo (Portuguese for Saint Paul) is the capital of the state of São Paulo in south eastern Brazil. It is located at 23°32′36″S, 46°37′59″W, 400 km (250 miles) from Rio de Janeiro, and 1030 km (640 miles) from federal capital Brasília.
The city has an area of 1,575 square kilometres (575 sq miles) and a population of approximately 10 million (according to CityMayors, 2005), which makes it the largest city in Brazil and South America and the second largest in the world.
About 20 million people live in the São Paulo metropolitan area — defined by Brazilian norms, which is currently ranked as the fourth-largest in the world and by far the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. If using international norms for metropolitan area, and adjoining metropolitan regions Campinas and Baixada Santista are included, the population encompasses some 24 million, without even including major satellite cities like Sorocaba and São José dos Campos.
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Highlights
São Paulo is a major business centre. The city has a multicultural metropolitan area, with heavy Italian, Portuguese, German, Arabian and Japanese influences. São Paulo is known for its varied and sophisticated cuisine, ranging from Chinese to French, from fast food chains to five star restaurants. Its night life is animated by thousands of bars, pubs, lounges and discos that cater for a variety of music tastes and are often open all night.
São Paulo is home to University of São Paulo, to two major art museums (MASP and Pinacoteca do Estado), a major symphonic orchestra (OSESP), and a Formula One Grand Prix racing circuit (Interlagos).
There are two major airports in the São Paulo metropolitan area: Guarulhos (GRU, for domestic and international flights) and Congonhas (CGH, for domestic flights).
History
The city was founded on January 25, 1554, by Portuguese Jesuit missionaries José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega, who established a mission — the Colégio de São Paulo de Piratininga — to convert the Tupi-Guarani Native Brazilians to Catholic religion. Located just beyond the Serra do Mar cliffs overlooking the port city of Santos, and close to River Tietê, the new settlement became the natural entrance to the vast and fertile plateau that would eventually become the State of São Paulo.
First named São Paulo de Piratininga, São Paulo became officially a city in 1711. It experienced a boom during the coffee cycle, starting in the late 19th century — chiefly because of its privileged position next to the port of Santos, through which most of the country's exports were shipped.
After 1881, waves of immigrants from Italy, Japan and many other countries arrived in São Paulo, at first to work at the enormous coffee plantations established in the State. In the 20th century, with the increasing industrial development of the country, many of them moved to São Paulo, which also attracted new contingents of immigrants.
Another important historical landmark is the Universidade de São Paulo's Law School, also known as Largo São Francisco, claimed to be the first academic institution in Brazil. First installed into a monastery, it was founded on 1 March 1828, right after the beginning of the Brazilian Empire, following the increasing need for lawyers and politicians. As rich Brazilians used to go to Lisbon to take undergraduate Law courses, the Brazilian Emperor, Dom Pedro I, decided that it was time to create a national law school. It attracted students from all over the country, who gave São Paulo a bohemian lifestyle.
Economics
São Paulo is the financial and industrial centre of Brazil. The city is said to have more German companies than any other single city outside Germany.
São Paulo's stock exchange is the Bovespa, while its futures exchange is BM&F. Its financial districts are located on the surroundings of Avenida Paulista and in the Centro Velho (Old Centre). Other important business districts are located near Avenida Berrini, Itaim Bibi, Vila Olímpia and Chácara Santo Antônio neighbourhoods.
There are a number of highly specialised regions, like Bom Retiro and Brás (wholesale garment districts), Consolação (lighting equipment), Rua Santa Ifigênia (electrical and electronic parts), Rua Teodoro Sampaio (furniture and musical equipment), the posh Rua Oscar Freire (designer and label stores) and the crowded Rua Vinte e Cinco de Março. São Paulo is also home to a large number of advertising and broadcasting companies.
As in many other large cities in developing countries, about 9% of São Paulo's population live below the poverty line. The city has several extensive shantytowns (favelas and cortiços). Middle class stands for 21% of the population in the metropolitan area. [1]
Politics
Because of its economic and demographic weight, São Paulo has always played a pivotal role in Brazilian politics. With a constituency larger than that of many Brazilian states, the mayor's office is viewed by politicians as a springboard for state and national-level offices.
São Paulo's current mayor is José Serra of the Party of the Brazilian Social Democracy (PSDB). His mandate expires on December 31, 2008.
São Paulo's latest mayors were:
| Mayor | Entry in | Left Office in | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| José Serra | 2005 | - | PSDB |
| Marta Suplicy | 2001 | 2004 | PT |
| Celso Pitta | 1997 | 2000 | PPB |
| Paulo Maluf | 1993 | 1996 | PPB |
| Luiza Erundina | 1989 | 1992 | PT |
| Jânio Quadros | 1986 | 1988 | PTB |
| Mário Covas | 1983 | 1985 | PMDB |
See also: List of Mayors of São Paulo
Metropolitan Region
São Paulo has an officially defined metropolitan region, with 39 municipalities, for a list see [2]
Boroughs
São Paulo is divided into 31 boroughs, whose names are:
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Each borough is divided into several districts (in most cases, two or three). The borough with the greatest number of districts is the borough of Sé, in the historical downtown, with eight districts (Sé, República, Consolação, Santa Cecília, Bom Retiro, Bela Vista, Liberdade and Cambuci). In second place are the boroughs of Lapa, with six districts (Lapa, Perdizes, Barra Funda, Vila Leopoldina, Jaguara and Jaguaré) and Mooca, also with six districts (Mooca, Tatuapé, Belém, Pari, Brás and Água Rasa). The peripherical boroughs of Jabaquara and Ermelino Matarazzo have only one district.
Tourism and Recreation
Here is as summary of the events that occur every year or every two years in the São Paulo City:
Videobrasil
Festival for Electronic Art
Every two years, the Festival brings groundbreaking work by cream-of-the-crop artists from all over the world to São Paulo. In keeping with the constant transformations in media and support, the curatorship has added installations, performances, VJs, CD-ROM art, and internet art to the programme.
The Festival includes a competitive exhibition of so-called southern circuit and an extensive parallel programme. Art shows, debates and meetings introduce new ideas and art work, setting new guidelines for contemporary art in Brazil.
Exhibitions featuring work by prominent electronic artists are also part of the Festival. Brazilian pioneers such as Rafael França and Olhar Eletrônico, and international guests such as Nam June Paik, Bill Viola and Gary Hill, have featured in the event’s past editions. Each edition has a theme of its own. http://www.videobrasil.org.br
Bienal de São Paulo
The Bienal is a cultural event hosted every two years. Close to 1 million people visited the 26th Bienal in 2004.
Its theme was chosen to enable a wide range of artistic positions to feel comfortable. The concept of "Free Territory" involved various dimensions: it had a physical-geographical, a socio-political as well as an aesthetic dimension – the latter, of course, being of greatest interest in the context of this exhibition.
In order to emphasise the thematic unity of the overall exhibition, the invited artists and those representing the countries are mixed together on the 25,000 square metres of the spacious Oscar Niemeyer Pavilion. Despite the complexity of individual voices, the end result was intended to be a unity.
In addition to an intensification of the North-South dialogue inside Brazil, the Bienal's aims include the promoting of links between non-European cultures along a South-South orientation.
São Paulo Fashion Week
It seems that Brazil has finally entered the world of fashion with the increasing reputation of famous Brazilian top models such as Adriana Lima, Gisele Bündchen, Fernanda Tavares, Ana Beatriz Barros and Ana Hickmann, and the "discovery" of some fresh talents such as Alexandre Herchcovitch by some international fashion magazines. As a consequence of this, São Paulo Fashion Week is the place to see and to be seen in Brazilian fashion scene, always attracting a number of international fashion editors and models.
Nowadays, São Paulo Fashion Week is one of the most relevant fashion events in Brazil. It takes place twice a year at the building of Bienal de São Paulo.
São Paulo Gay Parade
Also a major event in the city, the São Paulo Gay Parade has brought to Avenida Paulista about 2 million people in 2005, according to official statistics. It is usually opened by the city's mayor. A huge carnival goes all the way through the centre of the city.
São Silvestre Race
The São Silvestre Race takes place every New Year's Eve (31 December). It was first held in 1925, when the competitors ran about 8,000 metres around the streets. Since then, the distance raced has varied, and it is now fixed at 15km. Registration takes place from 1 October, with the maximum number of entrants limited to 15,000.
March for Jesus
The March for Jesus is a major event in the city on Avenida Paulista at Easter, drawing about 1.5 million people in 2005. This event brings together members of the many and growing Evangelical churches in the region. http://www.estadao.com.br/cidades/noticias/2005/mai/26/49.htm (?)
Other events
- Anima Mundi Festival
- Mercado Mundo Mix
- São Paulo International Film Festival
- Carnival of São Paulo
- Skol Beats
- Tim Festival
Transportation
The city is crossed by many of the most important motorways in the country, such as the BR-116, SP-270, SP-280, Rodovia Anhanguera, Rodovia dos Bandeirantes, Rodovia Anchieta, Rodovia Castelo Branco and Rodovia dos Imigrantes. Some railways also cross the city. They are, however, very old and were constructed intending not to transport people, but to transport coffee to the Santos seaport.
São Paulo has three airports. Congonhas Domestic Airport operates domestic and regional flights, mainly to Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasília. Campo de Marte handles some private and small aeroplanes. Guarulhos International Airport, located 25 km north east from the city centre in the neighbouring city of Guarulhos, operates domestic and international flights to the city.
The city has approximately 60 km of underground railway systems (the São Paulo Metro, locally known as the Metrô), complemented by another 270 km of CPTM (Companhia de Trens Metropolitanos, or "Company of Metropolitan Trains") railways. Both CPTM and the underground railway lines carry some 3.5 million people on an average weekday, and a few new underground lines to be constructed are expected to add another million people to the system within the next five years.
The bulk of the public transportation (public and private companies) is composed by more than 10,000 buses. Also, there is a strong presence of informal transportation (dab vans).
São Paulo grew quickly from the 1940s to the 1980s and many roads and buildings were constructed without major planning. As a result, heavy traffic is common in the main avenues of the city, and traffic jams are relatively common in its larger highways (mainly during floods). The main means of commuting into the city is by car and by bus.
São Paulo has the highest per capita helicopter ownership in the developing world and now rivals Tokyo and New York as the world's leading helicopter user. The owners are an elite wealthy class who take advantage of around one hundred helipads and heliports to conveniently avoid heavy traffic and to rise above contact with the more dangerous aspects of urban life.
Ethnic diversity
São Paulo has significant ethnic diversity, comparable to other major cities:
- 7,500,000 people are direct or indirect descendants of Italians. There is a building named Edifício Itália (Italy Building), in honour of the Italians. It was once the tallest building of the city (165m).
- 2,300,000 people are direct or indirect descendants of Portuguese.
- 1,500,000 people have direct or indirect African heritage.
- 1,000,000 people are direct or indirect descendants of Germans.
- 850,000 people are direct or indirect descendants of Lebanese — by far the largest number of Lebanese outside Lebanon. Most are Christian (Roman Catholic).
- 800,000 people are direct or indirect descendants of Japanese. São Paulo has the largest number of Japanese outside Japan.
- Note that many "paulistanos" have mixed ethnic origins; the numbers above may count individual people in multiple groups.
Other considerable groups are:
Current critical problems
Since the beginning of the 20th century, São Paulo has been the major economic city of Brazil. With the advent of the two World Wars and the Great Depression, exports of coffee to the US and Europe were critically affected, which led the rich coffee farmers to invest in industrialisation in the city. This fact attracted many people from other regions of the country, especially from the north east. From a population of merely 32,000 inhabitants in 1880 São Paulo increased its population to approximately 250,000 in 1900, 1,800,000 in 1940, 4,750,000 in 1960 and 8,500,000 in 1980. The effects of this population boom in the city are:
- São Paulo grew quickly and in a very disorganised manner. With no proper organisation the city grew without leaving much space for main roads and parks. Major traffic jams are relatively common on many roads of the city.
- Migrants, especially from the north eastern region of the country, often move to São Paulo with hopes of a better life, but, more often than not, are unable to find work in the city's saturated labour market and end up living in impoverished conditions or returning to the regions from which they originally came.
- Approximately 1,500,000 people live in favelas in São Paulo and surrounding areas.
- The crime rate is high. Kidnappings and robbery are considered relatively common in the city.
- Floods are common in São Paulo as a consequence of the lack of undeveloped green spaces and the relative impermeability of the ground. Rain water cannot be properly drained and water accumulates quickly, causing floods in particular areas of the city.
- Air pollution is high. The two major rivers crossing the city, the Rio Tietê and the Rio Pinheiros, are severely polluted, although these rivers are currently being cleaned up.
- Although there are several parks across the city, the per capita green area of São Paulo is very small. This fact, associated with high crime rates, has led to many Paulistanos choosing to live in gated complexes of flats. Condominiums, with security cameras and guards, and homes and apartments, with barred windows, are common throughout the city.
Major holidays
- January 1 – New Year
- January 25 – São Paulo's Anniversary — city holiday
- Between February and March – Carnival (Brazilian national holiday, it happens on the Friday to Tuesday preceding Lent. The holiday ends at noon on Ash Wednesday)
- At the beginning of April – Easter
- April 21 – Tiradentes
- May 1 – Labour Day
- Second Sunday in May – Mothering Sunday
- Mid June – Corpus Christi
- July 9 – Constitutional Revolution of 1932 (a state holiday in São Paulo State)
- Second Sunday in August – Fathers' Day
- September 7 – Brazil Independence Day
- October 12 – Our Lady's Day/Children's Day
- November 2 – All Souls' Day
- November 15 – Republic Day
- December 25 – Christmas
See also
External links
- Apontador – São Paulo Street Map
- Photo gallery of São Paulo's rail systems
- São Paulo mayoral race 2004 pages
- São Paulo City Hall Website (in Portuguese)
- São Paulo Official Tourism Site
- São Paulo Official Home Page
- Brazil's Elites Fly Above Their Fears Washington Post article dated June 1, 2002.
- Rich Brazilians Rise Above Rush-Hour Jams
Related Wiki links
Photographs
- Brazil Skyscrapers – Many Photos of São Paulo and its skyscrapers
- A very complete photo album
- Virtual postcards (requires to locate and click on the option entitled "postcards")
- skyscrapers
| Capitals of Brazilian States |  |
|---|---|
| Aracaju | Belo Horizonte | Belém | Boa Vista | Brasília | Campo Grande | Cuiabá | Curitiba | Florianópolis | Fortaleza | Goiânia | João Pessoa | Macapá | Maceió | Manaus | Natal | Palmas | Porto Alegre | Porto Velho | Recife | Rio Branco | Rio de Janeiro | Salvador | São Paulo | São Luís | Teresina | Vitória | |