The most historical buildings in the city
can be visited in a walking area starting in Praça da República (Republica
station). The Caetano de Campos building used to be a school, but now holds the
education department of the state. Walk by the Ipiranga Avenue and notice the
Edificio Itália. A great view can be seen from the top, which also has a very
nice restaurant. Act like a customer if you want to get in! Walk down Av. São
Luiz and you will get to the Mario de Andrade Library. It looks like a prison,
but its not!
Turning left on Xavier de Toledo, keeping
the library on your left, you will pass the Anhangabaú subway station and will
see the Ladeira da Memória (Memory Hill) with its obelisk. This place was an
aqueduct for water to cattle and cattle dealers. Continue through the Xavier de
Toledo to the Teatro Municipal and the Shopping Light. The food court on the 5
th floor is ok. On the right side, of those building there is the Viaduto do
Chá, a metal bridge named after an old platation of tea that existed in the
area under, which is now the Anhangabaú Park (Deamon Valley in Tupi-Guarani
–local Indian language!) At the end of the bridge, you will reach the Praça do
Patriarca and the Igreja de Santo Antônio, the central church of the São Paulo
settlement.
Turn right on Rua São Bento and head to the
Largo São Francisco (São Francisco Square) with the church of São Francisco,
the Chapel of the Third Order and the College of Law. Behind the statue of a
French man kissing an Indian Girl (!) is Senador Feijó street. Walk through it
until the Sé square and visit the huge Sé Cathedral (holds up 8.000 people).
Outside the cathedral, check out whats happening on the Caixa Economica Federal
building, accross the square. Watch out for pickpockets in this area.
Turn right on Floriano Peixoto and check
out the Solar da Marquesa house. Follow around the street till Praça Patio do
Colégio, where the city was founded in 1.554. Keep walking by the Boa Vista
street until reaching the São Bento square, home of the Monastery and Basilica
of São Bento (some times they perform Gregorian chants and sells great - and
blessed! - pastries). Walk on São Bento pedestrian street until reaching the
São João avenue (you are crossing the Anhangabaú park). Note the Prédio dos
Correios. Walk São João avenue passing by Largo do Paiçandú and the Nossa
Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos, a church build in 1906 by Black
Brazilians where former sacred African religious rites took place.
Continue through avenida São João until you
reach back the Ipiranga avenue. Have a drink in the Bar on this corner which is
one of the most popular in town based on a song called Sampa from Caetano Veloso. Taking the Ipiranga avenue
again will take you back to Praça da República.
