The ornate foyer
Garnier style.
Wilfredor — CC0 · Wilfredor — CC0 · Stella Dauer from São Bernardo do Campo, Brasil — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Stella Dauer from São Bernardo do Campo, Brasil — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Theatro Municipal is one of São Paulo's great landmarks, on Morro do Chá, Tea Hill, in the old centre. The engineer Ramos de Azevedo built it with Italian architects between 1903 and 1911, inspired by the Palais Garnier in Paris and using materials mostly brought from Europe, and it opened on 12 September 1911 with the opera Hamlet. The most famous event in its history was the Week of Modern Art in February 1922, which launched modernism in Brazilian art and outraged conservatives at the time. Today it is home to the Municipal Symphony Orchestra, the lyric choir and the City Ballet. Free guided visits take in the foyer, the auditorium and the ornate salons, with tickets booked on the theatre's website the day before, two per person at most. In front lie a square and the Anhangabaú valley.
Garnier style.
1922.
Opera and ballet.
Praça Ramos de Azevedo, central São Paulo
Farol Santander (Altino Arantes Building)Farol Santander is the present name of the Altino Arantes Building, the Art Deco6 minutes walk4.6
Rua 25 de MarçoRua 25 de Março is São Paulo's best-known street for popular shopping, and its s8 minutes walk4.4
São Paulo Cathedral (Sé)The Sé Cathedral is São Paulo's largest Catholic church, overlooking Praça da Sé10 minutes walk4.8
São Paulo Municipal Market (Mercadão)The Municipal Market, the Mercadão to paulistanos, is a large covered food marke13 minutes walk4.6
Museum of the Portuguese LanguageThe Museum of the Portuguese Language is an interactive museum of language, desc15 minutes walk4.7Visits are free; tickets are booked on the theatre's website the day before from 10:00, two per person at most.