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It seems that everything in Brazil is larger than life. After all, it has the world's wildest parties, the greatest waterfalls, the mightiest river (the Amazon) and the largest rain forest. For travelers to this exotic country, São Paolo is a fantastic place to start exploring the hidden corners and phenomenal natural attractions. São Paolo is the largest city in South America and, with a population of around 18 million, dwarfs metropolises like New York City. Known as a megalopolis, São Paolo sprawls across an amazing 3,070 square miles.
Built on the wealth of the coffee industry in the late 19th century, the city has grown at a booming rate with immigrants flocking to the region from as far away as Italy, Portugal, Japan and Germany. As a result, São Paolo boasts some of the best restaurants and food offerings in the world, as well as top rate nightlife, and a thriving cultural and arts scene. A lot has been made of the dangers for Western travelers in parts of Brazil, but in the past decade major efforts have been made to provide extra security and police presence at tourist attractions all over the country. Still, always travel with safety in mind.
Traffic and smog are some of the modern day curses the city has to bear, as with such a massive populace the streets are usually crowded and congested. Yet still the locals carry on their daily routines catering to tourists and major companies headquartered there. São Paolo is a city committed to making dreams come true, so why not be adventurous and visit this South American megalopolis?
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Museu de Arte de São Paolo
Museu de Arte de São Paolo contains the city's premier collection of fine arts, including works by Degas, Renoir, van Gogh, and prized works by Brazilian artists. One of the draws of the Museu de Arte de São Paolo is the unique way the artworks are hung from the ceiling and arranged in rows; viewers walk through an "avenue" of masterpieces displayed on either side. A stroll through “masterpiece alley” is definitely worth a visit. The building’s architecture is striking in itself, as it is set on a low-rise elevated by two massive concrete pillars 256 feet apart. The huge open area beneath the museum is often used for cultural events and is the site of a Sunday antiques fair.
Edifício Copan
Oscar Niemeyer, the architect of this serpentine building, went on to design many of the landmark buildings in Brasília, the nation's capital. Edifício Copan displays Niemeyer’s trademark clean, white, undulating curves that are characteristic of his work. Although many Brazilians confess to preferring the standard colonial architecture of the old city, most take pride in Niemeyer's international reputation. Not only is this building an apartment complex housing over 4,000 people, but it also contains offices and retail stores for some great shopping.
Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM)
This is not just another ho-hum museum tour. The permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art includes more than 2,600 paintings, sculptures and drawings from the Brazilian modernist movement. The artworks are striking examples of the early modernist movement, which began in the 1920s, when artists were developing a new form of expression influenced by the city's rapid industrial growth. The museum also houses an extensive library with more than 20,000 books, photographs and multimedia. This is a definite must-see for visitors interested in art, literature and history.
Casa das Rosas
A French-style mansion, the House of the Roses, or Casa das Rosas seems out of place in the hustle and bustle of modern day life in São Paolo. Originally built in 1935 by famous “Paulistano” architect Ramos de Azevedo, the structure was home to the same family for over 50 years when it was made an official municipal landmark in 1986. Later it was made into a cultural center where budding artists could exhibit their works.
Beaches
Although São Paolo rests on a plateau nearly 50 miles inland, you can make quick getaways fairly easily. A trip to the beaches of the North Shore will give a visitor time to relax and take in some of Brazil’s most beautiful geography. Mountains and strips of Atlantic rain forest hug hidden, sandy coves along the shoreline. If you are interested in seeing some of the North Shore's most beautiful houses, take a quick drive along the Rio-Santos Highway. You will be amazed at the extravagance of some of the homes. The best time to plan a trip to the shore is on weekdays when school is in session, as that is when the beaches are deserted.
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All THE AMAZING RACE related graphics and photos on this page are copyright 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
This website IS NOT affiliated with the CBS Broadcasting Inc.
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