Capital of the State of São Paulo, it's the country's largest city, presently one of the world's largest urban concentrations (17 million inhabitants). The city is the most important commercial, industrial, financial and economic center of Brasil, generating over 30% of the GNP, which is roughly US$550 billion (9th largest economy of the world.) . It is a modern city with skyscrapers, universities, sophisticated shopping malls, theaters, showplaces and factories.

São Paulo simultaneously reflects the Portuguese traditions, the social imprint of large internal migration and, also, the cultural traits of large number of ethnic neighbourhoods, many of them descendants of Italian, Japanese, and Lebanese migrants.