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Culture of Sao Paulo. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces
The Brazil Avenue concentrates the most remarkable architectural landmarks of the city of Sao Paulo. The main symbol of the city and its main site is the Nossa Dama Brasil Church. The ancient catholic church features a rather unique style. An impressive building with two cupolas resembles a typical orthodox cathedral. Tourists should visit and estimate its inner decoration which is kept unaltered for many years. A perfect place for hiking is the Japan Town of Sao Paulo. First immigrants appeared in the city for more than a hundred years ago. Today the tourists will discover plenty of popular shops and restaurants in the area apart from a great variety of original buildings and constructions. The main symbol of the area is the Viaduto do Chá (the Tea Bridge).
Sao Paulo is the undercover capital of Brazil and its economic center. Originally the city was considered the territory and the home of the Indians, but after the depletion of land resources … 
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Sao Paulo invites its guests to explore popular restaurants visiting which will turn to the greatest experience full of new impressions during a vacation. Sea food fans should pay a visit to … Open
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Sao Paulo can offer its guests a wonderful tour of the religious sights – there are plenty of such places in the city. One of the most interesting places for tourists is Mosteiro De Sao Bento, built in the neo-roman style in 1922. The visitors will be amazed by the rich interior decoration of the church, as well as with the bakery located on the territory of the monastery - many locals like to spend their time here. Another famous monastery outside the city is the Santuario e Convento Sao Francisco de Assis, which was built in the year 1647. The reconstruction of the site was needed in the middle of the 18th century – this is precisely when it received its present Baroque appearance.
The most waited event of the cultural life in Sao Paulo is still a carnival which is thoroughly prepared through the whole year. By its scale and staginess the carnival equals the globally … Open
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The largest city of Brazil can boast of having several masterpieces of modern architecture within its territory. One of such landmarks is the Hotel Unique, built according to the project of Joao Armentano and Rui Ohtake. They received several architectural awards for their creation. The curved shape gives the building originality, and its porthole windows it reminds you of an ocean liner – it was this building that inspired the architects. The Edifício Martinelli building is a notable one. It is the first skyscraper built in Brazil and this happened in 1934 (the construction began in 1922). The building has twelve floors. This high-rise is named in honor of the architect Giuseppe Martinelli, who designed it.
Sao Paulo is a perfect destination for nightlife enthusiasts. A good place for a family visit is the Instituto Butantan zoological park which main inhabitants are reptiles and insects. All … Open
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The Ibirapuera Park deserves to be mentioned not only because of its picturesque views, thanks to which you should definitely walk through the green zone: here is situated two buildings, on the architecture of which worked the world-famous Oscar Niemeyer. We are talking about Oca do Ibirapuera and Auditório Ibirapuera. Both buildings were constructed by the architect in the 1950s, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city. Today, various thematic events are held here: holidays, exhibitions, fairs, concerts. In addition, wonderful museums can be found within the territory of the park, and the architecture of buildings is no less striking: the already mentioned Museu de Arte Moderna, as well as the Museu Afro Brasil, the cultural center Pavilhão Japonês, and the Planetário do Ibirapuera Aristóteles Orsini.
1. The city of Sao Paulo feature fine and favorable weather all the year round with an average temperature hardly ever going below 25C. The hottest months of the year are considered to be … Open
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The “hidden pearl” of the financial center of Brazil is the wonderful building called Casa de Vidro Lina Bo Bardi. It is located away from the tourist routes, and travelers often bypass it. And in vain – its modernist architecture is capable of capturing the imagination of any visitor. The building was designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi in 1951 to stay there with her family. After the death of the owners, the “Glass House” passed to the Institute of marrieds, Lina Bo Bardi and Pietro Maria Bardi. You can find here the collection of their works, and interesting cultural events are also held here. However, in the area of Morumbi, you can meet other notable buildings as well, so you should definitely take a walk through the district.
Discovering the architecture of Sao Paulo from bird's eye view! Sao Paulo Cathedral, Luz Station, Museum of Art, Municipal Market, all those monuments are defining the image of Sao Paulo … Open
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Brazil’s financial center is also famous for its beautiful painted graffiti walls. The most famous place of this kind is Beco do Batman, which is located along the R. Gonçalo Afonso Street. You can find on the walls of buildings brightly colored works of local artists, with comic book characters depicted on some of them, which gave the name to the district. Nearby (in the garden Jardim das Bandeiras) you can find the impressive Escadaria do Patapio staircase – another work of art painted with bright colors, depicting scenes from life, staircase. Another staircase that will attract the connoisseurs of street art is called Escadaria Das Bailarinas. It is also located nearby (on R. Alves Guimarães street).
Museu Paulista, Altino Arantes, as well as many others, they all become the world's cultural heritage objects and remain as iconic monuments for Sao Paulo … Open
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The most “Brazilian” museum can be considered to be a museum dedicated to football (Museu Do Futebol), which will be found interesting not only by sports fans. You can find here many interesting installations with broadcasts of matches, attractions, personal belongings of famous football players – including their real T-shirts. Lovers of excursions through underground labyrinths should be advised to make a wonderful tour along the Túnel da Rota. An exciting exhibition that will amaze lovers of archeology and history can be seen in the cultural center Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia. The collection collected in the Museu de Anatomia Humana Alfonso Bovero which is dedicated to anatomy will be found interesting by tourists.
Sao Paulo is the undercover capital of Brazil and its economic center. Originally the city was considered the territory and the home of the Indians, but after the depletion of land resources … Open
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Sao Paulo and surroundings
Plan your own excursion through Sao Paulo: churches, museums and castles
Sao Paulo Cathedral, Sao Paulo
Location on the map: 
Facts:
» The Sao Paulo Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of Sao Paulo, one of the largest neo-Gothic churches in the world. Facts:» The history of the cathedral dates back to 1589, when it was decided to build the main church of the colony in the small village of Sao Paulo. Construction of the present cathedral began in 1913 and lasted for almost half a century; the cathedral was consecrated in 1954. Towers were finished only in 1967.
» That’s the largest religious building in Sao Paulo, as it has a height of 111 m and a width of 46 m.
» The building of the cathedral was constructed in Gothic Revival style with Renaissance-style dome. About 800 tons of marble were used for interior design. Small capitals are decorated with coffee beans, pineapples and animal figures.
» The crypt of the cathedral located under the main altar houses the underground church decorated with marble sculptures. There are the tombs of bishops and archbishops of Sao Paulo.
Museu Paulista, Sao Paulo
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Museu Paulista in Sao Paulo was created to preserve the memory of the proclaiming of Brazilian independence. Facts:» Today, the museum's collection of Paulista consists of approximately one hundred thousand historical objects of various kinds. The museum has antique furniture and clothing accessories, famous historical figures, as well as works of art.
» The library that has a huge book collection of 100 thousand volumes and 40,000 manuscripts is situated in the same building. Its room contains all sorts of historical documents.
» The most popular work of art in the museum is Independence or Death by Pedro America.
» The Museu Paulista is one of the main attractions that you must visit. The museum has entrance fee.
Luz Station, Sao Paulo
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Luz Station is the railway station in the district of Luz in Sao Paulo. It was built in the late 19th century. The station is a terminal for commuter trains and subways of Sao Paulo, bringing together many of the lines of both systems. Facts:» For decades, the station has dominated above the urban landscape, and its clock served to check all watches in the city.
» The Luz Station is an architectural monument showing the influence of traditional architecture. In many ways it defined the face of the city.
» The Luz Station is also known for its interactive museum of Portuguese Language that was open on the third floor in its building in 2006.
» The aim of the museum is to create a living representation of the Portuguese language and to educate visitors through its unusual aspects.
Museum of Art, Sao Paulo
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Museum of Art is one of the most famous and important museums in Latin America; furthermore, it's one of the most visited venues in the world. Facts:» The museum area of 10,000m2 contains 8,000 works of art.
» The Museum of Art was founded by journalists Assis Chateaubriand and Pietro Maria Barda. Its modern building opened in 1968 was designed by the architect Lina Bo Bardi.
» Two colonnades support 9,200-ton building shaped in form of 74-meter cube.
» The museum has one of the best Western art collections in Latin America.
Museum of Football, Sao Paulo
Facts:
» The Museum of Football is the venue dedicated to the football theme. The museum is set in front of the municipal stadium, the area between the monumental facade and rear rack is of 5,600m2. » The Museum of Football is dedicated to the national sport; it's not associated with any particular club or fan group.
» The Museum of Football includes multimedia space, a memorial gallery of the best Brazilian players, a room dedicated to the fans and journalists, the studio audience for discussions about sports, clubs and shops, a multimedia room, a restaurant and a cafe.
» The museum features permanent exhibits, which are monitored and updated by researchers such as radio holdings or offices providing statistics on Brazilian players abroad.
» Every year the museum attracts many visitors not only from Sao Paulo, but also from across the country and around the world.
This guide to cultural sights Sao Paulo is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.
What to visit during two-day excursion in Sao Paulo
Parque do Ibirapuera
Where: Av. Pedro Alvares Cabral, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5740 884;
Where: Av. Pedro Alvares Cabral, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5740 884;
Memorial da America Latina
Where: Av. Auro Soares de Moura Andrade 664, Sao Bento, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3823 4600;
Where: Av. Auro Soares de Moura Andrade 664, Sao Bento, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3823 4600;
Museu Afro-Brasileiro
Where: Parque do Ibierapuera, Gate 10, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5579 0593;
Where: Parque do Ibierapuera, Gate 10, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5579 0593;
Museu Arte Brasileira / FAAP
Where: Rua Alagoas 903, Higienópolis, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3662 7198;
Where: Rua Alagoas 903, Higienópolis, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3662 7198;
Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM)
Where: Parque do Ibirapuera, Gate 3, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5549 9688;
Where: Parque do Ibirapuera, Gate 3, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5549 9688;
Pinacoteca do Estado
Where: Praça da Luz 2, Luz, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 2299 844;
Where: Praça da Luz 2, Luz, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 2299 844;
Catedral da Sé
Where: Praça da Sé, Centro, Sao Paulo;
Where: Praça da Sé, Centro, Sao Paulo;
Casa das Rosas
Where: Av. Paulista 37, Paraíso, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3251 5271;
Where: Av. Paulista 37, Paraíso, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3251 5271;
Mosteiro de São Bento
Where: Largo de São Bento, Centro, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3328 8799;
Where: Largo de São Bento, Centro, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3328 8799;
OCA
Where: Parque Ibirapuera Gate 3, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5574 5505;
Where: Parque Ibirapuera Gate 3, Jardins, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5574 5505;
Pátio do Colégio / Museu Padre Anchieta
Where: Pátio do Colégio 2, Centro, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3105 6899;
Where: Pátio do Colégio 2, Centro, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 3105 6899;
Parque Zoológico de São Paulo
Where: Av. Miguel Stéfano 4241, Água Funda, Parque do Estado, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5073 0811;
Where: Av. Miguel Stéfano 4241, Água Funda, Parque do Estado, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5073 0811;
Planetário
Where: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, Gate 10, Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5575 5206;
Where: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, Gate 10, Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo; Telephone: +55 011 5575 5206;
Reference information
Map of all palaces
Public palaces near Sao Paulo
♥ Palace 'Palácio dos Bandeirantes' , 9.6 km from the center. On the map
Photo
♥ Palace 'Palácio Monroe' , 15.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palácio do Anhangabaú' , 47.8 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palácio da Conceição' , 83.7 km from the center. On the map
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Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Sao Paulo and around
♥ Art museum 'São Paulo Museum of Art' São Paulo, 2.4 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Art museum 'São Paulo Museum of Modern Art (MAM)' São Paulo, 4.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Art museum 'University of São Paulo' São Paulo, 9.6 km from the center. On the map
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Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Sao Paulo
♥ Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, São Paulo, 1.3 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Catedral Nossa Senhora do Líbano, São Paulo, 1.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Catedral Armênia São Gregório Iluminador, São Paulo, 2.2 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Catedral Melquita Nossa Senhora do Paraíso, São Paulo, 2.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Basílica Nossa Senhora da Penha, São Paulo, 9.4 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Catedral Santo Amaro, Abade, São Paulo, 13.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Catedral Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao, Guarulhos, 13.9 km from the center. On the map
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Expo 2020 in Dubai Was Visited by More Than 7 Million Visitors
If you haven’t visited this event yet, there is still time to book a hotel in Dubai because Expo 2020 Dubai runs until 31 March 2022. People who are unable to visit the emirate can make a virtual tour on the Expo 2020 website. By the way, the virtual visitation has already reached 31.6 million by the end of December.
Read this
04.12.2023
If you haven’t visited this event yet, there is still time to book a hotel in Dubai because Expo 2020 Dubai runs until 31 March 2022. People who are unable to visit the emirate can make a virtual tour on the Expo 2020 website. By the way, the virtual visitation has already reached 31.6 million by the end of December.
Read this
04.12.2023
Photogallery of cultural heritage of Sao Paulo
Landmarks of culture on Sao Paulo map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc
Culture guide to Sao Paulo. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Sao Paulo: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Sao Paulo. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!
