Containing the cities of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, the southeast has nearly half the Brazilian population (with 11% of Brazil's total area, contains 43% of its population). Rio de Janeiro offers stunning beaches, mountains and vibrant nightlife. São Paulo is the business capital of Brazil (it is the largest Latin American industrial and commercial centre). The city covers an area five times bigger than Paris. Its restaurants and nightlife are widely considered to be within the best in the world. The state of Minas Gerais has preserved several historical towns from the colonial times, such as Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Congonhas, Mariana and São João del Rey.