Itapecerica da Serra

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Coordinates: 23°43′02″S, 46°50′58″W Itapecerica da Serra is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2006 is 162,239, the density is 1,071.2 inh./km² and the area is 151 km². The name Itapecerica is believed to come from the Tupi language for slippery stone, and da Serra means of the Mountains in Portuguese.

[edit] History

Itapecerica da Serra was founded in 1562 by the Jesuit missionaries. It was one of several settlements Christianized indians, established around the Piratninga College (later to become the city of São Paulo) as a first line of defense against raids by hostile indians. Besides the local inhabitants, the village incorporated natives from the village of Carapicuíba, brought by bandeirante Afonso Sardinha and priest Belchior Pontes.