1554day.year
São Paulo, Brazil, is founded by Jesuit priests.
Jesuit priests establish a mission that evolves into São Paulo, which will become the most populous city in Brazil.
On January 25, 1554, Jesuit missionaries Manuel da Nóbrega and José de Anchieta founded the College of São Paulo on a plateau near present-day São Paulo. The institution aimed to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity and serve as an educational and cultural center. The settlement drew farmers, traders, and settlers, fostering rapid population growth. Over the centuries, the mission community expanded into a bustling colonial town. Today, São Paulo stands as a global metropolis rooted in this humble Jesuit outpost.
1554
São Paulo
Jesuit