São Paulo is Brazil's largest city and the most populous city in the entire Southern Hemisphere. It was founded by Jesuit priests in 1554 as a small mission school to evangelize indigenous people, and was named in honor of the Apostle Paul because its founding date coincided with the feast of his conversion in the Catholic calendar.
From Mission School to Economic Giant
São Paulo remained a modest settlement for centuries, until the late 19th-century coffee boom completely transformed its trajectory, as trade wealth and massive waves of immigrants, especially from Italy and Japan, poured in — making it home today to the largest Japanese community outside Japan itself. The city became Brazil's industrial and financial heart, hosting the headquarters of the leading companies and banks of South America.
- The most populous city in the Southern Hemisphere
- Home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan, in the Liberdade district
- São Paulo Fashion Week is a leading fashion event in Latin America
- The financial and industrial heart of the Brazilian economy
São Paulo is known for its dense skyline of skyscrapers and its diverse arts and culinary scene, reflecting the varied origins of its residents from across the world.
