FACTS
ABOUT SAO PAULO: São Paulo
is the largest city in Brazil and is known throughout
the country as the “business capital”
and it is here most international flights arrive
and depart. The distance to Brazils most important
cities; about 430km to Rio de Janeiro, 410km to
Curitiba, 590km to Belo Horizonte and 1.020km to
the country’s capital Brasilia. It lives approx
10,5 million people in the municipal of Sao Paulo,
and including suburb towns, slightly more than 20
million people.
HOW IS SAO PAULO:
São Paulo is a World City and a home for
people of all races. For those who wish to have
the feeling of visiting the whole world in one place,
São Paulo is a must destination. Immigrants
from every corner of Brazil and the world can be
found there. You will find Jews, Italians, Japanese,
Arabs, in short, people for everywhere on the planet.
They live in communities that preserve the traditions
of the countries of origin. And they live in perfect
harmony with each other. It is the continent’s
fastest growing urban center and is considered as
regions cultural, scientific, educational, sports,
financial and technological capital, offering a
nonstop yearly calendar of congresses and fairs.
Here we find the most modern convention centers,
excellent hotels, and a melting pot of high quality
gastronomy from most parts of the world, with over
12.000 restaurants. Sao Paulo has nearly 300 cinemas,
more than 100 theaters, a dozen cultural centers
and 70 museums, among diverse historical buildings.
There are also theme parks, countless leisure areas
and two large stadiums and it is also interesting
to underscore the Interlagos Speedway, home of the
city’s Formula 1 Grand Prix. In a city of
this size, shopping might be one of its main attractions
with its countless shopping malls, streets with
specialized commerce and arts and crafts fairs,
and the city guarantees options for every taste.
The history of São Paulo takes us back to
the Sixteenth Century; to the time the Portuguese
had begun to explore the country. Then Jesuits José
de Anchieta an Manuel da Nóbrega climbed
the “Serra do Mar” mountain range, reaching
the Piratinga Plateau, they found a “cold,
temperate air like Spain” and “a very
healthy site, fresh and with good water”.
The topography, a flat-topped, high hill, lying
between the Tamanduateí and Anhagabaú
rivers, was flawless and offered safety, and this
would favor the city’s growth to one of the
biggest city in the world, home to more than10 million
people.
WHEN TO GO / CLIMATE:
Sao Paulo is the place that receives most visitors
/ tourists in Brazil and it is possible to visit
all around the year for business or leisure. Throughout
most of the year, the climate in São Paulo
is warm, with an annual average temperature of 24ºC.
The warmest period, summer last from November thru
March, and the temperature can reach 28 to 32ºC
during the day and 20ºC to 23ºC during
the night. During the summer months, it is common
to have torrential rains almost every afternoon
that sometimes cause floods in lowlands and complicate
traffic throughout the city. In the winter months
(June and July), it can get very cold, with temperatures
dropping down to 5ºC at night, but normally
about 14ºC, and daytime it is warm, varying
between 15ºC and 25ºC.
HOW TO GO:
Sao Paulo is normally reached by air
via the International Airport (GRU) Guarulhos or
the national airport (CGH) Congonhas. As the city
is so huge, it is difficult to talk about distances
and time of travel within the city. But as some
reference, from the International Guarulhos Airport,
it is approximately 50km to downtown and takes 1
hour, sometimes less sometimes more, all depending
the traffic. Congonhas Airport is located within
the city, in the south part and an excellent neighborhood
for the overnight might be Moema, which is noble
area with many restaurants and one big shopping
mall named Ibirapuera. Moema is strategic located
near the airport, and near to the newest business
district Berrini. Besides to be the hub of the air
traffic in Brazil, Sao Paulo is a great hub of highways
as well. To the coast and the port in Santos goes
the highways Imigrantes (SP-160) and Anchieta (SP-150),
to the south of Brazil goes the highways Castelo
Branco (SP-280) and Regis Bitencourt, into the country-side
goes the highways Bandeirantes (SP-348), Anhaguera
(SP-330) and to Belo Horizonte the highway Fernao
Dias (BR-381), and to northwest, to Rio de Janeiro
goes the highways Airton Senna and Dutra (BR-116).
HOW
LONG STAY: For the first time visitor
we recommend at least one night stay, to able the
visitor to get a feeling of this metropolis and
pass by the main attractions of Sao Paulo. Besides
the pre-booked hotel and airport transfers, we recommend
you to book the city tour “the best of Sao
Paulo”, as the traveler get familiar with
the city (good start), and will experience the highlights
of Sao Paulo and get a contact with one of our bilingual
guides, which you may use as your local travel consultant.
As you see there are a lot of things to do in Sao
Paulo, so a longer stay will not be any problem,
but if you intend to visit other places in Brazil
/ South America, so one night stay might be sufficient.
WHAT TO DO IN SAO
PAULO: Besides the main attractions
in Sao Paulo that you can read more about below
there are some special events of interest as well,
that may justify a longer stay:
EVENTS:
São Paulo has a very busy schedule of congresses,
fairs and exhibitions. Every year, the city holds
a growing number of events, totaling 70 thousand,
with a number of participants and visitors surpassing
15 million. It has countless spaces that are appropriate
for receiving events of every size, totaling 330
thousand m² for fairs.
The
municipal Anhembi Complex is comprised
of the largest expo center in Latin America (68
thousand m², with parking for 7.5 thousand
vehicles), the Convention Palace (with auditoriums
for 2.8 thousand people) and the Grande Otelo Sport
and Cultural Pole, better known as the Sambódromo
(which holds large open-air events for 40 thousand
people). This space is used for Samba school parades
during Carnival, and for musical presentations.
The
Expo Center Norte is another large
pavilion with 61 thousand m² for expos, as
well as auditoriums. Some of the most important
fairs include: UD – International Domestic
Utilities Fair; Biannual International Book Fair;
Fenit – International Fashion and Textile
Trade Fair; Fenasoft – Domestic Software and
Hardware Fair; International Auto Show; Francal
– Footwear, Fashion Accessory, Machine and
Component Fair; Hospitalar – International
Fair for Hospital, Laboratory, Clinic and Doctor
Office Products, Equipment, Services and Technologies;
and Couromoda – International Fair for Footwear,
Sporting Goods and Leather Goods.
ATTRACTIONS:
Excursions
Fun and art are synonymous with São Paulo,
a city that breathes culture. The capital of the
state has 272 cinemas, 102 theaters, 11 cultural
centers and 70 museums, as well as dozens of historical
buildings. The
city also has five theme parks and countless leisure
areas. There are also seven large stadiums and the
Interlagos Speedway, home to the city’s Formula
1 Grand Prix. A traditional city tour is well recommended.
Shopping
The verb of shop is closely linked to São
Paulo. Similar to the other great metropolises on
the planet, the city ensures options for all tastes,
from arts and crafts fairs and art galleries to
the more than 50 shopping malls. The most famous
brands from every corner of the world are here.
The streets with specialized commerce are a big
differential in the city. They offer antiques, electronic
equipment, costume jewelry, and much more.
Theaters and Halls
Julio
Prestes Station
The station was built from 1926 to 1938, and it
was inspired by the great American train stations.
It was transformed into a show hall – the
São Paulo Concert Hall – home to the
São Paulo State Symphonic Orchestra.
Municipal
Theater
The theater was built in 1903 and inaugurated in
1911. Its baroque Renaissance style was inspired
by the Paris Opera House. It stands out with its
majestic interior and exterior construction. It
held the 1922 Modern Art Week. The Theater Museum
is annexed.
Churches
São
Bento Monastery and Church
This is an important landmark in the history of
the foundation of São Paulo. The tower holds
the most traditional clock in the city. It was installed
in 1921. It also has beautiful stained-glass windows.
Imaculada
Conceição da Luz Church and Monastery
/ Museum of Sacred Art
The 1st chapel was built in the 16th Century by
Domingos Luiz. The monastery where the nuns were
cloistered was built in 1774. The Museum of Sacred
Art is next door, occupying the old part of the
construction. The museum’s original mud pestle
construction was preserved. Its collection includes
baroque art pieces and images from the 17th to the
20th Centuries.
Sé
Cathedral
Construction began in 1913, but the cathedral was
only inaugurated in January 1954. The most prominent
features are the stained-glass windows with Biblical
themes, the Italian organ with 10 thousand pipes
and the carillon with its 65 bells.
Museums
Paulista
Museum (Ipiranga)
This museum has an important collection of 200 thousand
pieces that portrays the Empire of Brazil. It also
has a model of how the City of São Paulo
looked in 1841.
Contemporary
Art Museum - MAC/USP
This museum has a collection of 8000 works, a documentation
center and a library.
USP
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
Its collection of nearly 120 thousand objects and
images refers to the material culture of the Mediterranean,
the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, with special
emphasis on Brazil. There are masks, amulets, weapons,
ceramics, paintings, ornaments, clothes, domestic
utensils, and music and work instruments that depict
from pre-history to today.
USP
Geosciences Museum
This is the largest museum of its kind (in variety)
in South America. Its collection is comprised of
10 thousand pieces, including rocks, fossils, lapidated
gems, and precious and semi-precious stones.
Lasar
Segall Museum
This cultural activity center has a 2.1 thousand
piece collection of works by Lasar Segall.
MASP
- Museu of Art of São Paulo
This Lina Bo Bardi project was inaugurated in 1968
and it is considered to be the most important museum
of western art in Latin America. It receives important
temporary exhibits.
State
Pinacoteca (Art Museum)
This is the city’s first art museum and it
has great architectonic prominence. Its collection
includes 5 thousand paintings, sculptures and engravings
by Brazilian artists. It receives temporary exhibits.
Station
Pinacoteca (Art Museum)
Designed at the start of the 20th Century by Ramos
de Azevedo, the building was home to the Department
of Political and Social Order (Dops) from the 1930s
to the mid 1980s. It was completely restored in
2002, and today it continues the activities of the
State Pincoteca. It has five floors, large windows
and a brick façade.
Maria
Luísa and Oscar Americano Foundation
This park and house has a collection of Brazilian
art works and pieces from the 1st and 2nd Empires.
There is a jogging track and a tea house.
Immigrant
Memorial
The memorial’s collection, comprised of furniture,
personal and work objects used by the immigrants,
helps to better understand the formation of the
Brazilian people. Research about the arrival of
immigrants is permitted.
Modern
Art Museum – MAM
The museum’s collection has 2 thousand pieces,
including paintings and sculptures. It has a shop,
library and restaurant/bar.
Banco
do Brasil Cultural Center
The Banco do Brasil’s first agency and old
headquarters is a masterpiece of neo-Classic architecture
from the beginning of the century. It has been restored
and adapted to receive several artistic displays.
Latin
America Memorial
This largest center for Latin American integration
has a collection of 30 thousand books and 1.7 thousand
South American films. There is a permanent collection
of popular art from Mexico, Bolivia, Guatemala,
Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay and Brazil at the Popular
Creativity Pavilion. One of the highlights is the
high relief map of Latin America on the glass floor
that shows peculiarities of each region.
Butantan
Institute
This institute is famous for its research on poisonous
animals and the production of antiophidic serum.
It has a exhibit of Brazilian and foreign snakes.
Herculano
Pires Museum - Itaú Numismatics
The collection gathers 3 thousand coins, most of
which are Brazilian, and some pieces starting from
the year 1500 in gold, silver and copper.
The
Brazilian House Museum
This large house that belonged to Flávio
Prado, mayor of São Paulo (1934/38), has
the most complete Brazilian book collection on architecture,
urbanism, historical heritage and visual communication.
Its collection also includes furniture, crystals,
porcelain and objects from the 16th Century.
Museum
of Image and Sound
Several contemporary audiovisual languages can be
found here. It has an important collection of São
Paulo images: short and feature-length films, videos,
records, rarities, photos and graphic arts. It has
a projection room, an exhibit room, a restaurant
and a shop.
Museum
of Brazilian Art
The museum was inaugurated in 1961 and its collection
gathers 2.3 thousand works by Brazilian artists
and foreign residents in Brazil. Most of the works
are from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Parks
Ibirapuera
Park
With 1.5 million square meters, this is the most
frequented leisure area in São Paulo. It
has paths for walking and jogging, bikeways, woods,
lakes, sport courts and areas for relaxation that
attract city residents of all ages. It receives
up to 150 thousand visitors on weekends. There are
other important attractions at Ibirapuera, such
as the Modern Art Museum, the Biannual Fair building,
the Oca art exhibit pavilion and the Japanese pavilion.
It also has frequent free music presentations by
national and international artists. Ibirapuera was
inaugurated in 1954, during the celebrations for
the city’s fourth centennial. Oscar Niemeyer,
renowned Brazilian architect, designed several of
the buildings.
Trianon
Park (Lieutenant Siqueira Campos)
The park’s landscaping was designed by the
Frenchman, Paul Villon. It offers visitors contact
with native trees, such as the more than 300 year
old jequitibá, set among sculptures. It has
playgrounds, exercise equipment and the Fauno trail.
Playcenter
One of the city’s main amusement parks, Playcenter
offers dozens of attractions, as well as shows,
places to eat, stores, banks, parking, etc.
Estrela’s
Dream House
This house is full of toys and the visitor is received
by 5 m tall bear. It is a kind of toy museum run
by the Estrela toy manufacturer, where adults find
toys that were part of their childhood.
Zoo
This is an Atlantic Forest area where wild animals
such as the maned wolf, baby lynx and big-bellied
monkeys, and others live. It also has libraries
specialized in zoology and the Environmental Education
House where several activities are held.
Safari
Zoo
This park is a mixture of zoo and safari since some
animals roam about on the loose among the visitors’
cars. Visitors may opt to see the park in their
own vehicles or use park transportation. There is
a snack bar in the parking lot.
Architecture
Municipal
Market
Built in 1933, in neo-Classic style, this is one
of the most representative projects signed by the
Ramos de Azevedo office. It has stained-glass windows
with agricultural and cattle-raising themes. It
is currently an important supply center with a great
variety of foods.
Itália
Building
Built in 1956, this is São Paulo’s
largest building and it has a terrace with an observation
deck and a restaurant on the last floor (42nd floor).
On clear days, it is possible to see Paulista Avenue,
the Jaraguá Peak and even the Serra do Mar.
Banespa
Building
This building was built in 1939, and it provides
one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the
city. On clear days it is possible to see up to
40 km. In the tower’s anteroom, there is a
photo exhibit about the building’s construction.
Copan
Building
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1951, this is the
largest reinforced concrete structure in São
Paulo, symbolizing the Old Center’s urban
modernity.
Martinelli
Building
This first skyscraper in the city of São
Paulo was built in 1929, and for a long time it
was the city’s main attraction. The building
is the main example of São Paulo Belle Époque
luxury. In a way, it marks the transition of provincial
São Paulo, from low constructions to the
metropolis it is today.
Sports
Pacaembu
and Morumbi Stadiums
São Paulo is home to some of the most famous
soccer teams in the country, such as Corinthians,
São Paulo and Palmeiras. And, despite having
several stadiums, the main matches are normally
held in the city’s two largest and most traditional.
The Paulo Machado de Carvalho Municipal stadium,
or Pacaembu, is near the downtown area. It was inaugurated
in 1940 and can hold up to 40 thousand spectators.
Morumbi, or Cícero Pompeu de Toledo, belongs
to São Paulo Futebol Clube and it was inaugurated
in 1970, with capacity for 80 thousand fans. It
is located in the district of Morumbi, in the south
of the city.
Golf
– Blue Tree Park Mogi das Cruzes, Paradise
Golf & Lake Resort
The proximity to the capital makes this resort one
of the most frequented by São Paulo golfers
who is a majority in the country. Set on a one million
square meter area along the banks of a beautiful
lake, the resort can be easily reached over the
Ayrton Senna Highway. Today, the hotel has the capacity
to receive up to 500 guests. However, a constructed
area expansion project has already been elaborated
by the chain, and when terminated, it will triple
capacity.
Neighboring
cities
Embu
– shopping for antiques, arts and crafts and
furniture
The commerce for antiques and arts and crafts is
concentrated on N. S. do Rosário and Joaquim
Santana Streets and the Largo dos Jesuítas.
On Elias Yazbek Avenue (old Road to Itapecerica)
there are stores specialized in rustic furniture.
Most downtown establishments are open from Tuesday
thru Sunday. Almost all stores maintain the same
opening hours, from 8AM to 6PM. Sundays are the
busiest and the streets are closed to car traffic.
Small stands invade the downtown area, selling every
kind of art and craft – from rag dolls to
wooden sculptures and oil paintings.
Paranapiacaba
The Village of Paranapiacaba is the only Railroad
Village in Brazil that has been preserved since
its foundation. Located in the southeast region
of Santo André township, on the border of
the Paulista Plateau and the Serra do Mar, Paranapiacaba
has one of the most expressive cultural and natural
heritages in the country.
Castelinho
Museum (Paranapiacaba Preservation Center)
This is the former residence of the São Paulo
Railway’s chief-engineer. Built in 1897, it
is the largest house in the village. Its windows
provide a panoramic view of the village, and it
has railroad pieces on display. It is open for visitation
from Tuesday thru Sunday from 9AM to 5PM. R. Caminho
do Mendes, s/nº.
Soccer
Field
In 1894, an SPR employee played his first soccer
match in Brazil. His name was Charles Miller. And
it gave birth to the country’s national passion,
right there in the middle of an English village
in the Serra do Mar. Besides the 1st match, this
field also witnessed several others between the
Serrano Atlético Clube and great teams, such
as Santos and Corinthians.
Paranapiacaba
Arborism
The visitor can enjoy an adventure from the top
of the Paranapiacaba trees, enjoying the Atlantic
Woods, the scenery and the English village from
a bird’s eye view. This circuit was created
in the Paranapiacaba Municipal Natural Springs Park.
It floats through the trees that are in an environmental
conservation unit created by the Santo André
City Hall in 2003. The visitor can enjoy one of
the few circuits entirely installed in the Woods
area with utmost safety.
