The Faces of São Paulo

São Paulo is the most cosmopolitan state in South America: it is home to about 3 million immigrants from 70 different countries, an integral part of its population of 43 million spread across 645 municipalities. The state is an economic powerhouse, responsible for 32.2% of Brazil’s GDP, but it is also incredibly relevant, diverse, and rich in many other aspects. Here are some of them:TourismIn the city of São Paulo (the state capital), popular options include Avenida Paulista (the most important street in the city), which closes to cars on Sundays, Vila Madalena, and Largo de São Bento. But there is plenty of fun to be found away from the city center. The Roda SP Program, developed by the Tourism Secretariat, lists various itinerary options, from the countryside to the beautiful beaches of the coast (which stretch over 700 km).Natural WealthSão Paulo has over 700,000 hectares of “integral protection” areas (the most restricted type of protected area in the country, which only allows research and tourism to ensure conservation). The state also has 30% of its territory covered by the Atlantic Forest.HandicraftsEven with its high level of industrialization, São Paulo also has a remarkable tradition of arts and crafts, a result of all the natural wealth and the great diversity of peoples and cultures it hosts (but also, ironically, of the state’s own industrialization). Urban handicrafts transform industrial waste into new utilitarian and artistic objects. São Paulo actually has a ‘Craftsman Day,’ approved by law in 1991.GastronomyVisitors to the state have a vast selection of shops, delicatessens, and restaurants available. There are also traditional open-air markets, operating since the mid-17th century. Horticultural products, fish, and traditional cakes are part of the local traditional menu.CultureSão Paulo brings together cultural and entertainment trends from all over the country, many of which are easily accessible on foot. Options include downtown São Paulo, Avenida Paulista, Liberdade (São Paulo’s “Japantown,” the largest concentration of the Japanese community in the city that hosts the largest Japanese colony in the world), Oscar Freire Street and its surroundings, as well as Vila Madalena and the nightlife of Rua Augusta and nearby areas.Source: BrazilGovNews