Santos: progress and beauty by the sea

These two lines from the anthem of Santos reveal what most identifies the city in the collective consciousness: the sea. 

A city built facing the Atlantic Ocean, with its identity tied to this geographical location and its culture, society, and economy originating from this proximity, Santos is the biggest city on the São Paulo coast and home to the region’s largest economy.

Famous for several reasons, whether for the Port of Santos, the largest in Latin America, or for Santos Soccer Club, which introduced the world to the greatest soccer player of all time, the seaside city is much more than a tourist attraction.

Santos has beautiful beaches and architectural features that include several constructions dating back to the colonial period.

The city was founded in 1546 when the village of Enguaguaçu was renamed Vila de Todos os Santos, later Vila de Santos, forming part of the Hereditary Captaincy of São Vicente. However, Santos only became a city in 1839, during the Regency period.

Decades later, in 1890, work started on building one of the city’s landmarks: the Port of Santos. It was through here that a large part of Brazil’s 19th/20th-century coffee production flowed.

In contrast, the port was the place where many Japanese and Italian immigrants arrived in the country, coming to replace the recently liberated slave workforce in 1888.

Santos’ relationship with the coast was also reflected in the construction of several hotels and tourist facilities from the beginning of the 20th century.

At the same time, the city’s economy, driven by the port’s activities, ensured good financial health, which has been maintained over the years.

With the arrival of the 21st century, several projects to revitalize the historic center of Santos began to get off the ground and come to fruition, including initiatives focused on leisure and tourism, reinforcing the city’s vocation.

There are many attractions in this sector, including the Valongo Sanctuary, the Coffee Stock Exchange, the cathedral, and the Pelé Museum.

Santos is also a city with a strong sporting vocation. It is home not just to the soccer club bearing the city’s name, but also to the traditional Portuguesa Santista, and is famous for surfing, canoeing, and skateboarding competitions.

The city has several public and private sports centers, Olympic swimming pools, soccer fields, athletics tracks, soccer stadiums, multi-sport arenas, an artistic gymnastics gym, and the beachfront, which functions as an open-air gym.