Originally a mission station set up in 1554 by Jesuit priests on
the banks of the Rio Tiete, the city of Sao Paulo is today an
awesome megalopolis, the industrial and commercial powerhouse of
Brazil. The city grew wealthy on coffee cultivation in the mid-19th
century, thanks to the rich soil of the region, and the plantation
owners took up residence in the bustling regional centre. Gradually
the coffee barons diversified their interests and invested some of
their wealth in local industry, resulting in a demand for labour
and a resultant surge in immigrant population. Today 16-million
proud 'Paulistanos' live in the congested, chaotic and cosmopolitan
city centre and its sprawling surrounds. Lacking in natural
attractions, the city's leisure pursuits are mainly cultural, and
there are some impressive public buildings to delight
sightseers.
