São Paulo, Brazil, grew from a small Jesuit mission in 1564 to the third largest metropolitan area in the world today -- home to over 18 million people. Almost 70% of the population still identify themselves with the Catholic church. São Paulo has been compared to New York City and is home to one of the best subway systems in the world. If there are two things São Paulo is best known for in Brazil, it's business and food. It is by far Brazil's most import business center, affectionately called the "Brazilian locomotive" that drives the national economy. Almost every major industry in Brazil is based there with 15 percent of Brazil's gross national product being generated in São Paulo. With significant ethnic minority communities, including substantial Japanese, Italian, Arab, Lebanese and Christian neighborhoods, cuisine in São Paulo is a world affair.