Founded in 1553 by José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega, Sao Paulo was little more than a village. It’s incredible how far this city has come in the last 500 years. In 1711 Sao Paulo became a city and now over 11 million call it home, with a total of 300 million residents throughout the suburbs. The main language spoken here is Portuguese, as it is in the rest of Brazil. This city is a major import/export hub and industry capital. In fact most of where the city’s money comes from is from these trades. Being the third largest city in South America it has a reputation to live up to. From its exotic culture to its beautiful scenery and luscious nature, Sao Paulo beckons college students from all over the globe to come and enjoy some time soaking up the culture and ambiance of this stimulating city.
Sao Paulo is the art capital of Brazil. The countless pieces of art are a little intimidating yet they draw you in. The Museo de Arte Sacra & Jardim da Luz has the best collection of colonial art and artifacts. This is a nice place for college students looking for some culture to soak up. A labyrinthine baroque monastery built in the 1800s is an interesting sight. And there are many nature walks and great areas of the city that are especially nice to see on foot. Ibirapuera Park has 1.5 million square meters of land, and is a nice place for running, jogging and biking. Banespa Tower has an observation deck with a spectacular view of the city. As far as festivals are concerned, the Arts Biennial takes place every two years in the Biennial Pavillon, which is located in the Ibirapuera Park. There is a huge art show with showcases of new fresh talents, as well as masterpieces that have been carefully preserved. Carnival, which takes place between February and March, is a perfect time to come for spring break. Purchase tickets to the parade, and let us help you with your cheap student plane tickets. Dancers dress up in gaudy costumes and musicians play local samba music atop colorful floats and decorated cars. It is quite a sight to see.