Sao Paolo is the capital of Sao Paolo state, one of the country's largest economic centers, a huge megapolis that enchants tourists with the diverse kaleidoscope of buildings that were created in different epochs and according to different styles. The city is located 75 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. Sao Paolo is full of surprises, it can amaze anyone who gets there. By the way, it is not only the biggest city in South America, but also one of the three mostly visited cities in the world.

The city was founded in 1553 by the group of European immigrants and was initially called Piratininga. The city's development got its start when the first coffee plantations appeared here. Since 1932, the city has been the largest Brazilian economic centre.

There are several reasons why Sao Paolo is so popular with tourists.

The first reason is its architecture. Sao Paolo puts colonial style buildings perfectly together with the modern ones. There are a lot of constructions, museums and churches that were built several centuries ago in the city; however, its architecture can be called one of the most modern ones. This is the city where an old church can be standing on the background of a skyscraper and look really harmonious.

There are about 20 large museums in Sao Paolo, most interesting of which are: Sao Paolo Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, Zoological museum, world-famous Butantan museum, the Museum of Sacred Art, History Museum and others.

The city is also famous for its nightlife and restaurants. There are about 12500 restaurants, 15000 bars and nightclubs in Sao Paolo - these numbers surpass the number of such venues in Paris and London, and you can really say that Sao Paolo has the richest nightlife. Of course not all the clubs and restaurants are good ones. Sao Paolo is the international city that is why all the venues differ in style and quality.

When coming to Sao Paolo, the first thing you should definitely do is to go shopping. There are so many shopping places here, that you will find almost any product to suit your taste and opportunities. What is more impressive is the combination of quality and price: the latter is a very good one while the prices are rather low. The biggest country's wholesale market, which is opened at night, is located here. There are also market places in the central part of the city, where souvenirs, products and household goods can be found.

And, of course, being a huge city, Sao Paolo offers a lot to see. This is not only museums and galleries, but also the Pacaembu Stadium where "the king of football", famous Pele often played, Butantan Institute with its popular serpentarium (snake pit), Parque Ibirapuera famous for its architectural ensemble, magnificent Florestal park 11 km way from the city, the Interlagos recreation area with its excellent beaches, forests,

attractions and clubs and many, many more.

All in all, there is a lot to discover in this unusual and diverse place.