The largest city in South America, São Paulo sits on the Piratininga plateau and is surrounded by rivers that fan out into the interior. Almost from its founding in 1554, São Paulo became the gateway to the sertão (Brazil’s backcountry), and explorers known as bandeirantes made expeditions from the city into this region. Today’s main highways to interior cities still follow the routes of the bandeirantes.
number 10. Sao Paulo Cathedral
This is the largest church in the city (but not the state) of Sao Paulo, and can seat 8,000 people. It is a large-domed 20th century cathedral of the neo-gothic style, and was constructed using over 800 tons of marble
number 9. Museu do Futebol
The ultimate museum for football (soccer) fans, the Museu do Futebol offers both traditional exhibits as well as video and interactive displays. From information on famous players and famous games to basic instruction on how the game is played, the museum has things for people at every level of fandom, and even those considering becoming fans.
number 8. Mercado Municipal de Sao Paulo
This market building sits along the Tamanduateí river, and is a beautiful domed art deco building with seventy two stained glass windows created by the same Russian glass artist who created the Sao Paulo Cathedral.
number 7. Liberdade District
Liberdade is considered to be São Paulo’s Japanese district, although nowadays more Chinese and Koreans inhabit this area, with many of the ethnic Japanese having moved to more upscale areas. The entrance is found by a large, red arch that is used in ancient Japanese architecture to mark the entrance to Shinto temples. A weekly fair takes place in the main square here where traditional Asian and Asian-inspired crafts can be sold on the street.
number 6. Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo
Home of the finest European Art collection in South America and possibly the Southern Hemisphere, the MASP is a must-see for any art lover traveling to Sao Paulo. The artistic experience begins before entrance, as the unique architectural design created by Assis Chateaubriand is a work in itself.
number 5. Theatro Municipal
This ornate, gilded architectural wonder was created to showcase the importance of Sao Paulo on the international arts scene. Designed after the Palais Garnier in Paris, the Theatro Municipal made its world debut in 1922 as an important arts showcase when it hosted the year of modern art.
number 4. Museu da Lingua Portuguesa
The goal of this museum is to create an interactive experience with the Portuguese language that is fun and educational for both those new to the language as well as lifelong native speakers. Much of the presentation focuses on the history of the language, proto languages, and the various backgrounds and cultures who speak the Portuguese language.
number 3. Avenida Paulista
The 2.8 km (1.7 miles) long Paulista Avenue was originally a residential street filled with large, ornate mansions belonging to coffee barons. Many of these were torn down in the 1950’s, and replaced with large, multi-story buildings. It remains a center of luxury and business, and is much like Park Avenue Meets Wall Street in New York City.
number 2. Pinacoteca do Estado
Considered to be one of the most important art museums in Brazil, the Pinacoteca is home to the oldest art museum in São Paulo. The museum is one of the world’s best examples of Brazilian art, and houses many of the most important nineteenth century Brazilian pieces, as well as some modern displays as well.
number 1. Ibirapuera Park
Sampa’s answer to Central Park, Ibirapuera Park serves as a major recreational site and is one of the main tourist attractions in Sao Paulo. It has paths for walking and jogging, bikeways, woods, lakes, sport courts and areas for relaxation that attract city residents of all ages.