The city of São Paulo, also referred to as Sampa, aside from being known as the third largest city in the world is also Brazil’s cultural center. Thus, tourists from all over the world can expect a lot of interesting places to see in the city.
Below are among the sights and places you should not miss when visiting Sampa:
Gardens
There are two main gardens or arboreta in São Paulo; these are Jardim Botânico and Viveiro Manequinho Lopes.
The first which is located in Parque do Estado is a botanical garden which serves as home to almost 3000 plants of over 340 native species. It also has rain forest species from the Atlantic, an orchid house, and a number of aquatic plants. Entrance to the place cost R$3 and is open from Wednesday to Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Viveiro Manequinho Lopes in Parque Ibirapuera on the other hand, features a nursery where most trees and plants in Sampa are grown. Built in the 1920s, the place has been remodeled by Roberto Burle Marx. Among the specimens found in the garden are pau-brasil and ipê, pau-jacaré; both of which are native in Brazil. The place is open on weekdays from 7:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Museums
Tourists wanting to learn more about the city’s history and culture would be delighted to find out that Sampa has over 15 museums showcasing wide and varied collections.
Casa dos Rosas in Paraiso, which means the House of Roses in English, is a mansion in French style with Versailles-inspired gardens. It was built by an architect named Ramos de Azevedo in 1935 for one of his daughters. It had been home to the family until it was declared a municipal landmark in 1986, and was opened to the public as a cultural center.
Situated in Cidade Universitaria, Instituto Butantã has five museums showcasing over 70,000 of lizards, scorpions, snakes, and spiders. The place came about when a Brazilian scientist, with the state government’s help, turned a farmhouse into a venue for producing snake serum in 1888.
The Museu da Imigração Japonesa, Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), Museu de Arte Sacra, and Pavilhão Japonês are also among the interesting museums in the city.
Squares
São Paulo has three major squares. Catedral da Sé, which features a neogothic church with a height of 14 towers; the Praça da Sé, which has been a venue for the poorer Brazilians to play their music and sell some regional items, and the Praça Liberdade, which has often been the venue for Asian crafts and food exhibit.
Aside from these places, tourists can also check out the city’s markets, parks, and zoos to truly appreciate São Paulo’s beauty.