São Vicente, São Paulo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids São Vicente
Municipality
Municipality of São Vicente
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Brazil's first village Cellula-Mater of Nationality Birthplace of Democracy in the Americas
Location in São Paulo
Country	Brazil
State	São Paulo
Region	Southeast
Founded	January 22, 1532; 493 years ago (1532-01-22)
Named for	Saint Vincent of Saragossa
Area
• Total	147.89 km2 (57.10 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	329,911
• Density	2,230.79/km2 (5,777.71/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−3 (BRT)
HDI (2010)	0,768 – high

São Vicente is a city on the coast of São Paulo, Brazil. It's named after Saint Vincent of Saragossa, a patron saint from Lisbon, Portugal. This city is part of a bigger area called the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista. In 2022, about 329,911 people lived there. The city covers an area of about 148 square kilometers.

São Vicente was started in 1532 by a Portuguese explorer named Martim Afonso de Sousa. It was the very first permanent village built by Europeans in the Americas. It also held the first election on the American continent. Because of this, São Vicente is often called the "cradle of American democracy."

São Vicente is one of 15 cities in São Paulo that are considered seaside resorts. This means the city gets extra money from the state to help with tourism. It can also add "Estância Balneária" (Balneary Resort) to its name. People visit São Vicente for its interesting history and beautiful beaches.

History of São Vicente

São Vicente was the first permanent settlement built by the Portuguese in the Americas. It was also the first capital of the Captaincy of São Vicente, which is now roughly the state of São Paulo.

Founding the First Village

The city was officially established as a village in 1532 by Martim Afonso de Sousa. It was built in an area that was once called "Porto dos Escravos." São Vicente is known as the Cellula Mater (Mother Cell) of Brazil. This is because it was the first organized town in the country. The very first City Council in all the Americas was chosen democratically and started in São Vicente on August 22, 1532.

A Battle in São Vicente

A battle happened here on February 3, 1583. Three English warships were trying to trade with the Portuguese. But then, three Spanish ships attacked them. The English ships fought back and made the Spanish ships leave. One Spanish ship even sank during the fight.

Geography of São Vicente

São Vicente is located on the western side of São Vicente Island. It's mostly a place where people live and then travel to work in the bigger city of Santos. Santos is a port and business city on the eastern part of the island.

Connecting Cities

A small range of hills separates most of São Vicente and Santos. However, the cities connect in the north and along a narrow beach. A small strip of land, near the Cubatão River, extends west from São Vicente's main area.

The São Vicente Suspension Bridge connects São Vicente Island to Praia Grande on the mainland. This bridge was built in 1914. A second bridge, the Mar Pequeno Bridge, opened in 1981. São Vicente is also connected to the capital city of São Paulo by the Imigrantes Highway. The Manuel da Nóbrega Highway connects it to the southern coast. São Vicente also has a small fishing industry on the mainland, where there are a few small towns.

Noted Places to Visit

São Vicente has some interesting places to explore.

Monument of 500 Years of Brazil

The Monument of 500 years of Brazil (Monumento dos 500 anos do Brasil) is a special viewing platform. It's located on Porchat Island, which is a small island connected to the south of São Vicente Island. The famous architect Oscar Niemeyer designed this platform. From the platform, you can look north towards the National Congress building in Brasília. Oscar Niemeyer also helped design that building.

Xixová-Japuí State Park

Part of the Xixová-Japuí State Park is located in São Vicente. This park is about 901 hectares in size and was created in 1993. It helps protect nature and wildlife in the area.

Population Growth Over Time

The number of people living in São Vicente has changed over the years.

Notable People from São Vicente

Many talented people have come from São Vicente, including:

• Wlamir Marques: A famous basketball player who won an Olympic medal and was a World Champion.
• Cosmo Alexandre: A professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist.
• Larissa Pimenta: A skilled judoka (someone who practices judo).
• Jefferson: A professional footballer.

Sister Cities

São Vicente has a "sister city" relationship with another city in the world. This helps them share culture and ideas.

• Naha, Okinawa, Japan