Sights in The Southeast
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Mercado Muncipal
The recently refurbished Mercado Muncipal is a Belle Epoque confection of stained glass and a series of vast domes. Inside is a humble but delightful market specializing in fresh produce and dried goods. It's also a great place to sample a classic Sampa delight: pasteis, pockets of dough stuffed with meat, cheese or fish and then fried.
reviewed
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Estação da Luz
Across the street from the park sits Estação da Luz, a classic late-Victorian train station constructed with materials entirely shipped in from Britain and completed in 1901. It too has been returned to its original splendor. It services São Paulo's extensive suburban lines, with a long tunnel linking it to the Luz metro station.
reviewed
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Cachoeira Veu de Noiva
The young and the restless can follow the trail from Maromba to the Cachoeira Veu de Noiva, a very beautiful waterfall, in the Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, a full day's hike each way. It's possible to kayak the rapids of the Rio Preto, the cascading river dividing Minas Gerais from Rio state. The river also has small beaches and natural pools.
reviewed
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Edifício Itália
With 46 stories, this skyscraper just south of Praça da República is the tallest in the city center. Its top-floor restaurant offers some of the best, most sweeping views of São Paulo, though prices are high and the food nothing flash. Strictly speaking, you're supposed to be a customer to go there; if you're not, act like one!
reviewed
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Museu da Língua Portuguesa
Half of Estação da Luz has been given over to this museum, with fascinating permanent exhibits documenting the rise of the Brazilian language as distinct from European Portuguese, as well as creative temporary installations celebrating Brazilian literature. Note, though, that all accompanying signs are in Portuguese only.
reviewed
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Museu da Inconfidência
The Museu da Inconfidência, formerly the old municipal headquarters and jail, is an attractive building built between 1784 and 1854, on the south side of Praça Tiradentes. The museum contains the tomb of Tiradentes, documents of the Inconfidência Mineira, torture instruments and important works by Ataíde and Aleijadinho.
reviewed
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Fazenda do Secretário
The countryside around Vassouras is teeming with old coffee fazendas protected by historical preservation institutes. Most are still privately owned, so prior permission is required before touring them. The imposing Fazenda do Secretário is popular. The Casa de Cultura has detailed information and can help arrange visits.
reviewed
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Instituto Tomie Ohtake
The Instituto Tomie Ohtake is a cultural institute founded by Ruy Ohtake, São Paulo’s most prominent contemporary architect. The institute is dedicated to his Japanese-born mother, one of Sao Paulo’s most illustrious painters. An attractive gallery space features changing exhibits of prominent, mostly local artists.
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Forte Defensor Perpétuo
A 20-minute walk north of town, Forte Defensor Perpétuo commands a fine view over the bay. It was built in 1703 (and rebuilt in 1822) to defend against pirate raids on the gold pipeline that ran to Minas Gerais. The fort, located on the Morro da Vila Velha (the hill past Praia do Pontal) also houses an arts center.
reviewed
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Museu de Arte Moderna
Brazil's oldest modern art museum, Museu de Arte Moderna, possesses a fine collection of Brazilian modernists such as Anita Malfatti and Di Cavalcanti as well as works by Miró, Chagall, Picasso and Dufy. However, the public spaces are devoted exclusively to temporary exhibits. Check the museum's website for current offerings.
reviewed
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Instituto Tomie Ohtake
The Instituto Tomie Ohtake , is a cultural institute founded by Ruy Ohtake, São Paulo's most prominent contemporary architect. The building itself is a curving, colorful affair, perhaps not to all tastes but certainly striking. Inside, an attractive gallery space features changing exhibits of prominent, mostly local artists.
reviewed
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Igreja Santa Rita dos Pardos Libertos
Igreja Santa Rita dos Pardos Libertos was the church for freed mulattos (persons of mixed black and European parentage). Built in 1722, it houses a tiny museum of sacred art and has some fine woodwork on the doorways and altars. At the time of research, both the church and the museum were closed for renovation.
reviewed
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Matriz Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
Overlooking the lush Praça da Matriz, the Matriz Nossa Senhora dos Remédios is a fine stone church with handsome tiled floors, wedding cake–style alcoves and a row of glass-encased saint figures peering down at would-be worshippers. Paraty’s settlement began around the time builders first erected the church.
reviewed
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Museu do Futebol
Tucked under the bleachers of a colorfully art-deco Pacaembu Stadium, the city’s newest museum is devoted to Brazil’s greatest passion – football (soccer). Its multimedia displays over two floors manage to evoke the thrill of watching a championship game, even for nonfans. Most signage is in Portuguese only.
reviewed
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Oratório Vira-Saia
In the early 18th century, local residents built numerous oratories (glass-encased niches containing images of saints) on street corners around town, to keep evil spirits at bay. Of the few that remain, there's one on Rua dos Paulistas, another on Rua Antônio Dias, and the most famous of all, Oratório Vira-Saia.
reviewed
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Amerigo Vespucci Plaque
Praia dos Anjos has beautiful turquoise water but a little too much boat traffic for comfortable swimming. Just above the beach, look for the plaque commemorating Amerigo Vespucci's landing here in 1503. Vespucci left 24 men behind to start a settlement, making Arraial one of the first European toeholds in the Americas.
reviewed
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Museu de Arte Moderna
Brazil’s oldest modern art museum possesses a fine collection of Brazilian modernists such as Anita Malfatti and Di Cavalcanti as well as works by Miró, Chagall, Picasso and Dufy. However, the public spaces are devoted exclusively to temporary exhibits. Check the museum’s website for current offerings.
reviewed
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Museu da Casa Brasileira
Occupying an extravagant Palladian-style villa built by a local tycoon and his wife in the 1940s, Museu da Casa Brasileira has a hodgepodge collection of Brazilian and European furnishings from the 17th to 20th centuries. The museum's café-restaurant is its best feature, with good food and lovely outdoor seating.
reviewed
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Mulungú Vermelho
The countryside around Vassouras is teeming with old coffee fazendas protected by historical preservation institutes. Most are still privately owned, so prior permission is required before touring them. Mulungú Vermelho is popular. The Casa de Cultura has detailed information and can help arrange visits.
reviewed
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Igreja NS Rosário dos Pretos
This beautiful stone church , with its many images of Black saints, was built in 1708, by and for slaves. Since they had no free time during daylight hours, construction took place at night – note the nocturnal symbolism in the ceiling paintings of an eight-pointed black star and a half-moon.
reviewed
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Gruta Rei do Mato
Gruta Rei do Mato is the most interesting cave. Near Sete Lagoas, north of Belo, it has prehistoric paintings and petroglyphs. From Belo Horizonte, take any Sete Lagoas–bound bus running along Hwy BR-040 (R$15, 80 minutes, hourly from 7am to 11pm) and ask the driver to drop you at the cave entrance.
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Santa Eufrásia
The countryside around Vassouras is teeming with old coffee fazendas protected by historical preservation institutes. Most are still privately owned, so prior permission is required before touring them. Santa Eufrásia is popular. The Casa de Cultura has detailed information and can help arrange visits.
reviewed
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Cachoeira Grande
The countryside around Vassouras is teeming with old coffee fazendas protected by historical preservation institutes. Most are still privately owned, so prior permission is required before touring them. Cachoeira Grande is popular. The Casa de Cultura has detailed information and can help arrange visits.
reviewed
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Museu Afro-Brasil
This remarkable museum (in a winningly open Niemeyer pavilion) sheds light on the lives of Brazil's African diaspora, from slave times through the present. Its permanent collection of some 5000 objects ranges from paintings to religious objects. If you understand Portuguese, check out their fantastic website.
reviewed
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Casa das Rosas
Housed in a classic mansion in the style of the coffee barons, this cultural center was originally built in 1928 by Ramos de Azevedo, the ‘starchitect’ of his era. The house, which hosts occasional art exhibits and concerts, is a reminder of what Av Paulista was like before it went vertical.
reviewed