Sorocaba is a fast-growing inland city in São Paulo state with about 724,000 residents (2022 census) and an estimated 762,000 in 2025, founded in 1654 and elevated to town status in 1661. Historically it became a key stop on Brazil’s 18th-century mule-trade routes (tropeirismo), and later industrialised heavily—earning the nickname “Manchester Paulista” for its textile and factory-era boom. For visitors, the city’s easy highlights are its green spaces and family-friendly sights: the popular Quinzinho de Barros Zoo, the Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico Irmãos Vilas Bôas), and a string of parks and lakeside walks that break up the urban sprawl. Sorocaba sits about 100 km west of São Paulo city, making it a straightforward day trip or base in the interior, with road links and a strong “big regional city” feel rather than a tourist resort.

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