Understand
Although it was founded by the French in 1612 and has also been occupied by the Dutch in the past, São Luis remained a markedly Portuguese colonial city. The buildings with beautiful azulejo tiles walls and the cobblestone streets of its well-preserved historic center have been listed a World heritage site by UNESCO.
The city is roughly divided in two regions, divided by a river of sorts:
São LuÃs proper with the center, Old Town and industrial and working class suburbs.
São Francisco and its neighbours, which comprise a newer commercial district, all urban beaches, and many new high rise apartment buildings.
São Luis is also one of those places that have a distinctive culture of its own - typical cuisine, popular traditions and festivals and lively reggae parties that make the culture of São Luis stand out among Brazilian cities.
