Community history
Cloth traders since the 1800s.
Agência Brasil Fotografias — CC BY 2.0 · Rag2.Brazil — CC BY-SA 4.0 · joão Scarpi — CC BY 3.0
Rua 25 de Março is São Paulo's best-known street for popular shopping, and its story is the story of Brazil's Arab community. It was named in 1865 after Brazil's first constitution, signed on 25 March 1824; before that it was a road along the Tamanduateí River called the Street of the Seven Bends. From the 1870s Syrian and Lebanese immigrants began arriving in Brazil, and they were the first to open shops on this street, trading in cloth and living in rooms and basements nearby, until by the 1930s it was known as the Street of the Turks, as Brazilians called newcomers from the Ottoman Empire Turks. During the First World War many of them opened textile mills, and many Lebanese and Syrian families still trade in the area. Today it is one of the busiest shopping streets in Latin America, with wholesale and retail shops, arcades and street vendors selling cloth, accessories, decorations and toys cheaply. The crush is intense, especially before holidays, and pickpockets are active, so carry little and keep your bag in front of you.
Cloth traders since the 1800s.
Wholesale and retail.
A few steps away.
Old central São Paulo, near the Municipal Market
Farol Santander (Altino Arantes Building)Farol Santander is the present name of the Altino Arantes Building, the Art Deco3 minutes walk4.6
São Paulo Municipal Market (Mercadão)The Municipal Market, the Mercadão to paulistanos, is a large covered food marke5 minutes walk4.6
LiberdadeLiberdade is São Paulo's Japanese quarter, in the city with the largest Japanese23 minutes walkSyrian and Lebanese immigrants were the first to open shops there from the late 19th century, trading in cloth until it was known as the Street of the Turks, and many Arab families still work there.