São Paulo is enormous: 12 million people live there in the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere and the third largest in the Americas. São Paulo boasts over 100 museums, 120 theaters, around 300 cinemas, as well as various parks and green areas. It is the Latin American capital of conventions and events, with a superstructure at the Anhembi Convention Center to host congresses and conventions.
Sampa, the affectionate nickname given to the city, is delightful and famous for offering one of the best nightlife scenes on the planet. Known as the Latin American capital of fine dining, it features high-end international restaurants with refined regional dishes created by renowned Brazilian chefs. It is also considered the Brazilian capital of pizza, with over six thousand pizzerias scattered throughout the city.
The São Paulo Museum of Art (Masp), listed by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) in 2003, has a collection of 10,000 pieces, including African, American, Asian, Brazilian, and European art, from ancient times to the 21st century; including paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and clothing. The Pinacoteca do Estado, a rich visual arts museum, hosts important international exhibitions and displays valuable pieces from the last 200 years of Brazilian art.
On weekends, the traditional program for paulistanos (as those born in Sampa are called) is to visit the street markets around the city. The markets in Bixiga, Liberdade, and Praça Benedito Calixto are among the most visited.
Visiting Ibirapuera Park is a pleasurable activity. In addition to areas for exercise, cycling paths, and playgrounds, it features museums, auditoriums, and a planetarium, always bustling with an intense cultural program.
The São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade, which usually takes place in May or June, floods Avenida Paulista with the sounds of electric trios. While the party (one of the largest in the world) goes on, there are debates, cultural fairs, and award ceremonies. Learn more about the gay parade.
Source: www.visitbrasil.com