São Paulo
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The flag of São Paulo consists of thirteen alternating black and white horizontal stripes with a red canton bearing a white map of Brazil. The black and white stripes represent nights and days of the Bandeirantes, the colonial-era explorers who expanded Brazil's territory westward. The red canton symbolizes the blood shed in these expeditions, and the outline of Brazil represents the Bandeirantes' contribution to shaping the nation's borders. The design is bold, austere, and distinctively different from other Brazilian state flags.
São Paulo's economy alone is larger than the GDP of most countries in the world — if it were a country, it would rank among the top 20 economies globally.
Adopted: 1932
