Sao Paulo (BRAZIL)

Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city proper in the southern hemisphere, the largest city of the Americas, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the Sao Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among the ten largest metropolitan areas in the world. Sao Paulo is the capital of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state. It exerts strong regional influence in commerce, finance, arts and entertainment and a strong international influence. The name of the city honors Saint Paul of Tarsus.

The metropolis has the largest economy by GDP in Latin America and Southern Hemisphere. Sao Paulo has significant cultural, economic and political influence both nationally and internationally. It is home to several important monuments, parks and museums such as the Latin American Memorial, the Museum of the Portuguese Language, Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Museum of Ipiranga and the Ibirapuera Park. Paulista Avenue is the most important financial center of Sao Paulo. The city holds high profile events, like the Sao Paulo Art Biennial, the Brazilian Grand Prix of Formula 1, Sao Paulo Fashion Week, ATP Brasil Open. Sao Paulo hosts the world's largest gay pride parade. It is also the home of Brazilian television networks including SBT, Rede Globo and Gazeta.

It is home to the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange, the Future Markets and the Cereal Market Stock Exchanges (the second largest stock exchange in the world, in market value). Sao Paulo is also home to several of the tallest buildings in Brazil, including the building Mirante do Vale, Italia, Altino Arantes, North Tower of the UNSCOM (United Nations Centre Enterprise) and many others.
People from the city of Sao Paulo are known as paulistanos, while paulistas designates anyone from the surrounding state, including the paulistanos. The city's Latin motto, which it has shared with the battleship and the aircraft carrier named after it, is Non ducor, duco, which translates as "I am not led, I lead.

The city, which is also colloquially known as "Sampa" or "Cidade da Garoa" (city of drizzle), is known for its unreliable weather, the size of its helicopter fleet, its architecture, gastronomy, severe traffic congestion and skyscrapers. The city is considered a global city according to several classifications. According to one source, Sao Paulo is expected to have the third highest economic growth in the world between 2011 and 2025, after London and Mexico City, although New York City and Tokyo were expected to remain the largest in 2025.