470 years of São Paulo: immerse yourself in the city's architecture with this tour

The city of São Paulo is known for a number of honors, and architecture is undoubtedly one of them. Celebrating its 470th anniversary, São Paulo is home to great historic buildings and has been a blank canvas for great masters of architecture to leave their mark on the metropolis. For this reason, we have created a script for you to start and end your day inspired ! Check it out below:

Cathedral of Sé

The Sé Cathedral is certainly one of the most famous architectural projects in the city of São Paulo, and visiting it in the morning can be an excellent way to start the day. It was designed by German architect Maximilian Emil Hehl and opened on the 25th January 1954 to celebrate the city's anniversary. It is considered one of the five largest Gothic temples in the world , with a capacity of 8,000 people inside, with an architecture that combines classical and Renaissance elements. You can attend one of the religious events and get lost in the more than 70 meters height of its towers . The Renaissance dome mixed with the Gothic style is surprising – and very pleasing to the eye. Once a month, after Sunday mass, a brunch takes place on top of the Cathedral's altar. A new chef is invited to create the menu for each event , which allows visitors to have a unique gastronomic experience that is perfect for getting to know the less-visited spaces. of the church. Address : Sé Square - Sé Opening hours : 8am to 6pm, every day.

Teresa Toledo Lara Mansion

When you leave the Cathedral, you will walk just over 1 km until you reach the second architectural destination in São Paulo: the Palacete Teresa Toledo Lara . This is one of the buildings that best illustrates the city's Historic Center. The space was inaugurated even before the church, in 1910 , commissioned by Count Antônio de Toledo Lara, one of the founders of the Antarctica brand. In charge of the construction, the German architect Augusto Fried brought several European features to compose the building – statues, reliefs, garlands and more. The space served as a corporate center, mainly for doctors, lawyers and merchants. Years later, in 1940, the mansion began to house Rádio Record. If you visit the space close to lunchtime, you can take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Francisca restaurant, an environment that brings together music, art and gastronomy and which is located inside the historic building . Address: Quintino Bocaiúva Street 22 - Sé Opening hours (restaurant): Wednesday to Friday, from 11:30 am to 3 pm and 8 pm to 1 am; Saturday from 12 pm to 6 pm and 8 pm to 1 am; and Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm.

Japan House

With over 20 years of activity, the FGMF office has stood out for its contemporary and innovative architectural projects, such as Japan House , a cultural space located on Avenida Paulista. In 2018, the building, constructed with natural materials and using a reinterpretation of traditional techniques and elements of Japanese construction, was awarded as the best architectural project in the Shopping Malls & Stores category, in the South, Central America and Caribbean stage of the Prix Versailles award . The space has a series of exhibitions that are worth checking out about Japanese culture and history. To complete the experience, visit Café Sabor Mirai in the building itself. To check out the schedule, just click here ! Address: 52, Paulista Avenue, Bela Vista, Sao Paulo - SP Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 6pm. Saturdays from 9am to 7pm and Sundays until 6pm.

Glass House

The trip to Casa de Vidro (from Paulista Avenue) is a bit long, but it's worth it. You'll have to travel 13.5 km to get to the space created by none other than Lina Bo Bardi , the first woman to be granted citizenship. Brazilian to receive the Golden Lion award and also one of the main names in charge of large constructions in São Paulo, among them, MASP . The Glass House is one of the architect's most famous works, and it was also her first project upon arriving in Brazil. Unlike other projects designed by Lina, the residence served as a home for her and her husband for 40 years . As a highlight, It is worth mentioning that the house, a symbol of modern architecture , was built in such a way as to preserve the original vegetation of the Atlantic Forest. Address: R. Gen. Almério de Moura, 200 - Morumbi Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 3:30pm.

FAU/USP

If you wish, you can extend your visit to the modernist buildings in the capital of São Paulo and visit the University City of USP, especially the FAU – the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of USP . The building, in addition to having an important history for architecture, Having already received great masters of the field throughout its history (among them, Paulo Mendes da Rocha), it is a beautiful modernist work . The building was designed by Vilanova Artigas and Carlos Cascaldi, who began construction in 1961 and finished in 1969. What draws the most attention is the exterior of the building , whose double trapezoids give the space a sense of spaciousness. The main objective, which characterizes also the modernist movement that Artigas defended, is the integration of environments to make them more democratic and accessible among students , making a true invitation to the exchange of knowledge. Address: R. do Lago, 876 - Butantã Opening hours: 8am to 7pm; to arrange a visit date, send an email to: comunicacaofau@usp.br

Light Station

The 120-year-old station receives around 250,000 people every weekday. In addition to its fundamental role in urban mobility, the site is also a true temple of architecture in São Paulo – proof of this is that the structure was listed by the Council for the Defense of Historical, Artistic, Archaeological and Tourist Heritage (Condephaat). The station, as we know it today, was opened on March 1, 1901. Its architecture was heavily inspired by the English style of the 19th and 20th centuries , which led to it becoming known as "Ingleza". It is worth a visit. stop by, take some photos and even stop by to see the results of the restoration of the Museu da Língua Portuguesa , which is located inside the Station itself, and which was completely renovated after a major fire in 2015. Address : Luz Station Opening hours (museum): Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 4:30pm.

Picture Gallery

Before the day is over, there's nothing like paying a visit and enjoying an exhibition at the Pinacoteca – and since you'll be close by, why not? The building was designed by Ramos de Azevedo in the 19th century and underwent renovations in the 1990s. a renovation led by none other than Paulo Mendes da Rocha , who received the Mies van der Rohe Prize for Latin American Architecture in 2000 in honor of the project. Mendes da Rocha's strategy, which made the project stand out to the world, was to create a rotation of the main visiting axis through a subtle crossing of the bridges with the empty spaces – such as the internal courtyards –, which contributed to a deeper relationship between the building and the city . Next year, the Pinacoteca will have a new annex , which will be led by the Arquitetos Associados office (also responsible for the Inhotim buildings). With the expansion of the building, the Pinacoteca should occupy the position of one of the largest museums in Latin America . Address: Luz Square, 2 - Luz Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday, from 10am to 5:30pm, open until 6pm.

Martinelli Building

São Paulo's first skyscraper continues to be one of the city's most striking architectural and tourist landmarks. Located 3 km from the Pinacoteca, it can be seen from afar, as the building is 105 meters tall . Commissioned by businessman Giuseppe Martinelli , the building was inaugurated in 1929 and played an important role in expressing the economic boom that was happening in São Paulo – not surprisingly, the building was built on Rua São Bento, an important commercial hub in the city until the present day. In addition to its grandeur, the Martinelli has always attracted attention for its luxurious appearance with classic architectural elements , very common in projects in the United States. One of the highlights that offers an incredible panorama of the city is the observation deck at the top of the building (however, , because of the pandemic, this environment has not yet been reopened). The space is open to the public every day, and tickets can be purchased free of charge through Sympla . Address: R. São Bento, 405 - Historic Center of São Paulo Opening hours: 11am to 7:30pm, every day.

Copan

2 km away from the Martinelli Building is Copan , a magnificent development built by Oscar Niemeyer that stands out for its curved shape in the middle of a verticalized São Paulo that was going through a period of strong industrialization and real estate speculation in the center during the 1950s. The space was commissioned to serve as a residential building, which was to have 900 apartments. Today, the space has more than 1,160 apartments and around 5,000 residents – which guaranteed it the title as the largest residential building in Latin America . In addition to housing, Copan also houses shops, a movie theater and even a church . If you visit the space at night, we suggest stopping for dinner at Bar da Dona Onça , a restaurant run by Chef Janaína Rueda that is located at the foot of the famous building. To make your reservation, just click here ! Address: Ipiranga Avenue, 200 - Historic Center of São Paulo Opening hours (restaurant): Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 11pm, Sundays 12pm to 5pm.

Hotel Unique

To end your tour with even more inspiration, how about getting together with friends for a few drinks at Skye Restaurant & Bar at the top of the Hotel Unique ? The establishment was created by the great Ruy Ohtake (who passed away at the age of 83, on the 27th ). and was opened in 2003. The building is one of the most famous in São Paulo thanks to its shape that resembles a boat . This is a boutique hotel like never before. The unusual format, different from what one might think, was not motivated only by aesthetic appeal, but mainly to adapt the project to the standards of the region – which only allowed buildings of up to seven floors . With this format, Ruy was able to accommodate and allocate more accommodations to receive visitors. The Skye Restaurant & Bar is one of the amenities that guests and the general public can enjoy, allowing you to savor delicious drinks while enjoying one of the most beautiful views of the city – thus creating the perfect ending to your tour. Address: 4700 - Jardim Paulista Opening hours (Skye Restaurant & Bar): Breakfast (daily) from 7am to 11am; lunch Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 15:30 and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 13:00 to 15:30; dinner Monday to Saturday from 5:30 pm to 12:30 am (maximum stay until 1 am) and Sunday from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm (maximum stay until midnight). Does not accept reservations, only from guests.