Campinas, Major university city in São Paulo state, Brazil
Campinas is a large city in São Paulo state located roughly 90 kilometers (56 miles) northwest of the state capital at an elevation of 685 meters (2,247 feet). The metropolitan area covers twenty municipalities with a combined population of 3.6 million residents.
The settlement was founded in 1774 as a small outpost and grew into a major commercial hub during the 19th century through coffee, cotton, and sugarcane farming. Economic growth attracted immigrants from many countries, shaping the structure and character of the modern city.
Students from across the country shape daily life, filling cafés, theaters, and cultural centers with energy every evening. On weekends, families gather in large parks where grilling together and playing sports form part of the local routine.
Viracopos International Airport connects the city to destinations worldwide, while an extensive highway network links it to São Paulo and Brasília. Public buses run regularly through different neighborhoods, though checking routes ahead helps with planning your movements around town.
The Mata de Santa Genebra forest ranks as the second largest urban forest in Brazil, sheltering hundreds of plant species within the metropolitan boundaries. Trails wind through this protected area, offering visitors a direct encounter with the original Atlantic vegetation of the region.
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