Sao Paulo: Downtown-Center History Walking Tour - in English
São Paulo proudly hosts some of the world's largest immigrant communities, including Italians, Japanese, Syrian-Lebanese, and more. During our exploration, we'll uncover the fascinating history of this city, from its first skyscraper in Latin America to the pre-existing Tupi nation and the ancient South American pathways that once crisscrossed these lands.
Our journey will take us through the “new” center and the historic downtown, where we'll discover the enduring legacies of Jesuits, conquerors, churches, banks, migrants, and immigrants. Along the way, I'll illustrate how São Paulo has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past century, providing insights into what it's like to live here today.
Prepare to ascend to the city's heights, where you'll be awed by its sheer vastness, only to then dive into its vibrant communities, immersing yourself in a kaleidoscope of colors, scents, and hidden details.
This is my daily life in this captivating, beautiful chaos!
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Sao Paulo: Downtown-Center History Walking Tour - in English
What's included in Sao Paulo: Downtown-Center History Walking Tour - in English
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Italian Building
Start at Edificio Italia — Begin your journey at the iconic Edifício Itália, once the tallest in São Paulo and still one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. This meeting point places us right at the heart of the “Centro Novo” and sets the stage for a walk through the layers of São Paulo’s complex urban history.
Edificio Copan
Brutalism at Copan - Designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the Copan Building is a masterpiece of Brazilian modernism and brutalist architecture. With its striking curves and massive scale, it reflects the optimism and chaos of São Paulo’s mid-century verticalization and the ambition of a city reinventing itself.
Gallery of Rock
Centro Novo Treasures - Explore galleries and underground shopping corridors filled with vinyl records, antiques, manga, and pop culture relics. This vibrant zone reveals the city’s contemporary soul, shaped by diversity, consumer culture, and resistance. A favorite spot for collectors and subcultures alike.
Inclusions
- Guided tour
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- it is a walk of about 3 km
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- I'll wait for you at the entrance of the Italia Building
