Sorocaba is a municipality situated in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Located in the southeastern region, it lies approximately 92 kilometers from the state capital and straddles the Sorocaba River, a tributary of the Tietê River. The city forms its own Metropolitan Region comprising 27 municipalities with a total population of two million. It is integrated into the São Paulo macrometropolis, the first urban agglomeration in the Southern Hemisphere, which is home to over 30 million people.

The settlement was originally established as Nova Vila de Nossa Senhora da Ponte de Mont Serrat by Governor Dom Francisco de Sousa in 1591. Baltasar Fernandes laid the foundation of Sorocaba in 1654, and it became a village named Vila de Nossa Senhora da Ponte de Sorocaba in 1661. The city's history was significantly shaped by Tropeirismo, the mule trade route between Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro, which lasted from 1770 to 1870. Later, cotton cultivation and the arrival of the Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana in 1872 spurred industrial development.

The city features a well-preserved downtown with landmarks such as the Cathedral Church, the Monastery of São Bento, and the Brigadier Tobias' Manor. The Pelourinho, a symbol of Royal power, marks the site of the first slave trading post established in 1599. Sorocaba is also known for its cycling-friendly infrastructure, boasting 106 kilometers of cycleways and numerous public bicycle parking lots. The terrain is characterized by wavy strands with an average altitude of 632 meters above sea level.

Cultural heritage includes the Sorocaba Historical Museum, housed in the former residence of the Marquesa de Santos, and the Zoológico Municipal Quinzinho de Barros. The city's industrial past left a legacy of orange brick buildings and chimneys from English textile industries during the American Civil War era. Visitors can explore the Mercado Municipal for local commerce and visit shopping centers like Sorocaba Shopping Center, one of Brazil's first malls. The area retains a charming downtown atmosphere with practically no slums.

Sorocaba has a population of 762,172 as of 2025, making it the seventh-largest city in São Paulo state. Its economy is highly industrialized with a GDP exceeding R$ 32 billion and over 22,000 companies operating within its borders. Access is provided via major highways including Castelo Branco and Raposo Tavares, as well as a bus station connecting to destinations like Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro. The climate is subtropical with a warm summer rainfall pattern and average annual precipitation of around 1,300 mm.