There is so much for tourists to discover in Brazil’s largest city that it can take more than one visit to see the main attractions. And getting around can take a big chunk out of your valuable sightseeing time. To help you, here’s our pick of the top 8 best things to do in São Paulo.
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1. Pinacoteca
Designed in 1895, the building that now houses the Pinacoteca do Estado was the first art museum in São Paulo. At the time it was built to house the Lyceum of Arts and Crafts, an institution that taught technicians and craftsmen. Located at the cause you find out important information. bästa casino utan licens The structure of the museum itself is worth the visit. Exposed brick walls and a large, two-story atrium in the middle of the museum lets visitors enjoy the artwork under natural lighting.
2. Parque Villa Lobos
Although much smaller and less famous than its older sister, Ibirapuera Park, Villa Lobos is one of the greenest settings in all of São Paulo. Here the crowds are not as large during the weekends so you can rent a bike and enjoy the native trees and plants. Certain weekends see bands and individuals play their songs on the Musical Island open-air stage surrounded by concrete bleachers.
3. Theatro Municipal
Based on the Paris Opera House, the Municipal Theatre is one of the postcards of São Paulo. Since its construction in 1903, it has gone through several restorations to modernize its facilities, but without losing the glamour of its early-1900s style. The theater hosts performances by music and dance schools and, during days when no performance is scheduled, visitors can enter the theater to visit.
4. Museum de Arte de São Paulo
Set on Avenida Paulista in a bold red building with dozens of long, rectangular windows, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo is impossible to miss. The museum houses exceptional collections from many world-renowned artists, including Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, Renoir and Degas, and is touted as offering the most comprehensive collection of Western art in Latin America. MASP has more than 10,000 pieces of art ranging from paintings and sculptures to photographs and period clothing. The museum also hosts talks, temporary exhibits, art classes and music and dance performances.
5. Avenida Paulista
Filled with shops, hotels, businesses, cultural institutions and restaurants, Avenida Paulista is one of the city’s main thoroughfares. Towering skyscrapers populate this street – many of which boast some interesting architecture. Strolling down this avenue is a great way to take in the sights and sounds of São Paulo, and it makes for a convenient jumping off point to see some of the city’s other top sights, including the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, Shopping Cidade São Paulo and Parque Trianon.
6. Edifício Itália
Towering 46 stories above central São Paulo, Edifício Itália is one of the tallest buildings in the city. The building itself is a sight to behold – it’s narrow and covered with office windows. But the real reason travelers come here is for the spectacular panoramic city views afforded by Edifício Itália’s observation deck. You can access the rooftop deck for free between 4 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you’d rather spend some time savoring the view, you may want to visit the rooftop restaurant Terraço Italia, or its piano bar. Past visitors suggested ordering cocktails and drinking in the views (and beverages); many warned the food was subpar and on the pricey side.
7. Parque do Ibirapuera (Ibirapuera Park)
If you get tired of the concrete jungle, make your way to the Parque do Ibirapuera, which offers a spacious, green respite from São Paulo’s towering skyscrapers. The land was selected to be a public park in the 1950s to celebrate the city’s 400th anniversary and spans around 400 acres; many people liken it to New York’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park because of its size and the amount of visitors it sees.
Walking and biking paths snake through the lawns, and you can rent a bicycle from a number of vendors nearby. Music fills the air on Sunday mornings, when visitors can enjoy free concerts in the park’s Praça da Paz. Many cultural institutions can be found in the park as well, including the Museu Afro Brasil, Museu de Arte Contemporânea and Museu de Arte Moderna.
8. Pátio do Colégio
The square known as Pátio do Colégio, immediately north of Praça da Sé and the cathedral, is the original nucleus of São Paulo. Here, Manuel de Nóbrega and José de Anchieta founded the College of the Society of Jesus, a residence and center of study for Jesuits, and here on January 25, 1554, the first mass in the settlement was celebrated. The attractive plaza is now occupied by the Historical Museum, a museum of sacred art, and the Capela de Anchieta. All that remains of the 16th-century building are the doors and a stretch of clay wall. In the gardens of the museum is a pleasant café.
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