cities in brazil, except for the state of são paulo, are usually not arranged in a single network, but rather on various "export paths" to seaside ports. the most important cities are on the coast or close to it. state capitals are also each the largest city in its state, except for vitória, the capital of espírito santo, and florianópolis, the capital of santa catarina. there are also non-capital metropolitan areas in são paulo state (campinas, santos and paraíba valley), minas gerais (steel valley), rio grande do sul (sinos valley), and santa catarina (itajaí valley).