BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Sao Paulo, located in Brazil, is the biggest city in South America and the third largest city in the world. It is host to nonstop nightlife, over 1,000 restaurants, and a very diverse population. Located about 70 miles inland from the Atlantic coast, Sao Paulo is a city of contrasts: modern skyscrapers and colonial buildings, unbelievable wealth and extreme poverty, the intellectual life of the university and illiteracy of common folk. Over 15 million people live in the metropolitan area, making for crowded festivals and busy streets.

Sao Paulo's attractions are legion and range from the purely historical to the purely fun.

If you are looking for cultural arts, then Sao Paulo is the place to be. Concerts, international ballets, and operas grace the stage of the Municipal Theater. Art is on display in Sao Paulo's many museums, such as the most notable, the Museum of Contemporary Art. This museum is also home to works by Picasso and Miro as well as Matisse and Chagall. The Modern Art Museum has about 2,000 pieces in its collection, most of them produced in Brazil during the 1920s. The Sacred Art Museum has one of the largest collections of Brazilian colonial art. The Folklore Museum, Sao Paulo Assis Chateaubriand Art Museum, and several others provide hours of diversion for art lovers of every conceivable genre.

Generally, the city of Sao Paulo is the most important financial center in South America and has the most modern tertiary sector in Brazil. Its industrial park is responsible for around 10% of the national industrial production and its commerce, with dozens of large shopping malls, attracts buyers from many other states.

The State of Sao Paulo is the largest industrial center in Latin America. This industrial center has a high concentration of the most diversified industries and the largest livestock farming center in Brazil, based on sugarcane, oranges, corn, soybean, bananas, tomatoes, manioc, potatoes, beans, cottons and coffee. The main livestock are cattle, swine and poultry. Its industrial production includes the manufacture of vehicles, aircraft, satellites and high-tech electrical material, textile, chemical and non-metal mineral industries.

Time Zone: GMT- 3
Language: The language in Sao Paulo, and all of Brazil, is Portuguese. However Spanish and English are also widely spoken in the cities.
Visas/Passports: All visitors require passports that are valid for at least the period of intended stay in Brazil. Sufficient funds to cover their stay in Brazil, as well as a return or onward ticket and documentation required for further travel is necessary for all travelers. To enter Sao Paulo, here are the entry requirements from the many locations you may be coming from:
Entry requirements for Americans: A visa is required by US nationals. Tourists in possession of a visa may leave and return to Brazil
without a new visa, provided they do so within the time limit of visa validity. All visas issued from foreign representations must be used within 90 days after issuance.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK passport holders do not require a visa for either business or holiday or business travel for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Canadians: A visa is required by Canadian nationals. Tourists in possession of a visa may leave and return to Brazil without a new visa, provided they do so within the time limit of visa validity. All visas issued from foreign representations must be used within 90 days after issuance.
Entry requirements for Australians: A visa is required by Australian nationals. Tourists in possession of a visa may leave and return to Brazil without a new visa, provided they do so within the time limit of visa validity. All visas issued from foreign representations must be used within 90 days after issuance.
Entry requirements for South Africans: A visa is not required by South African nationals if traveling on holiday or business for up to 90 days. Those traveling for other reasons (including for a conference or as an exchange student) should check the requirements with the embassy.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealanders do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals do not require a tourist or business visa for stays of up to 90 days.

For a very thorough guide to almost anything you want to know about Sao Paulo.

For some nice pictures of Sao Paulo.