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Free attractions in Sao Paulo include:
Mercado Municipal - This wonderful food market offers delicious fruit, vegetables, and cheese.
The Parque da Luz - This Victorian public garden is a refreshing green sight in a bustling city.
Carnival Sao Paulo - Held in February every year, Sao Paulo's carnival has an authentic feel and is not quite as crowded as Rio de Janeiro's Canival.
Other Sao Paulo Attractions:
Butanta Institute Snake Farm - This is one of the more popular venues in town for tourists. It is found on the edge of Cidade Universitaria and is located in a lovely park that is suitable for picnics. The Butanta Sname Farm keep more than 1000 snakes from which they 'milk' them for anti-venom to treat both snake and spider bites.
Musea de Arte Moderna - located inside the Parque do Ibirapuera, the Musea de Arte Moderna is the oldest museum of modern art in Brazil. It contains a huge collection of artworks from the 1930's up to the 1970's. There is also a planetarium found there that runs daily sessions and is worth checking out.
Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo - found at Avenida Paulista 1578, the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo has the largest and best collection of western art in Latin America. It also has some French Impressionist paintings and a few Brazilian ones too.
Memorial da America Latina - The Memorial de America Latina can be ffound on Rua Mario de Andrade 664. It is situated just outside the museum is a 7 metre high concrete hand. Inside you'll find the Centre of Latin American studies, an auditorium which shows free concerts, and some handicraft goods. http://www.memorial.org.br/
For a good list of things to do, along with comments and ratings, check out this list of TO DO's.
Nightlife:
The nightlife consists of everyone out partying until the wee hours. Sao Paulo's nightlife is similar to the excitement, diversity and intensity of New York's. Whether you are interested in "high culture", live music, a disco, the gay scene or just a relaxed bar to hang out in, you will not have much of a problem in Sao Paulo finding what you are looking for. To enjoy it, all you need is money and transportation.
The best list of events, restaurants, bard museums and fairs can most likely be found in the weekly Veja magazine, which has a special Sao Paulo edition. Another good source is the magazine section of the Folha de Sao Paulo, newspaper at weekends.
Rua 13 de Maio in Bixiga is a must see for night-time partiers. This area has several clubs, restaurants and even a revival movie theatre that usually attracts a young crowd. You can go there, look around and plan out a full evening in one neighborhood. They have music every night except Monday.
Cafe do Bixiga at No 76 is a traditional bar that stays open late and serves a good pinga com mel. Bela Vista is another good area for nightlife. There's lots happening and it's central, although the clubs are not as close together as in Bixiga.
The Bar Brahma is the city's oldest drinking establishment. It's on the corner of Rua Sao Joao and Avenida lpiranga in the heart of the central hotel district. From 7 pm to midnight, the antique surroundings are accompanied by equally dated live music. If you are looking for the best tables, try upstairs. The bar is friendly and relaxing, and is a popular after-work hangout for many Paulistano professionals.
Another time-capsule bar is the Riviera Restaurant & Bar at the corner of Rua Consolacao and Avenida Paulista. This bar takes you back to the 1940s. It is inexpensive and unassuming. It is a good place to go with a friend to talk and unwind.
For those interested in the arts, the options are endless too. Sao Paulo is Brazil's theatrical centre and boasts a busy season of classical and avant-garde productions. A visit to the theatre is worthwhile even without a knowledge of Portuguese. The focal point for Sao Paulo's vibrant opera and classical music season is the Teatro Municipal, in Praca Ramos de Azevedo, in the city centre, where, in the 1920s, Vila Lobos himself performed. As an operatic and classical music centre, traditionally Sao Paulo was less important than Rio, but now Brazilian and foreign performers divide their time between the two cities.
Tours:
City of Sao Paulo tour - Be educated on this great city. Many sightseeing areas are included on these 4 hour tours. Costs are about $39.
Tour of Guaruja - Guaruja is a beach resort that is close to Sao Paulo (87km away) and easily accessible by the main highway. As a result, it is the biggest and most important beach resort of the state. All the Paulistas flock there at the weekends to escape the busy city life and to relax on the beautiful beaches, shop at the many boutiques and eat out at the great variety of restaurants. There are several beaches and islands worth visiting in the region, such as Santa Cruz dos Navegantes, Praia dos Goes and Guaiuba, which are best explored by boat. Costs for these tours 8 hour tours are about $75.
Museum Tours - Visit all the renowned museums of Sao Paulo:
- Sao Paulo Art Museum (MASP), which has Latin America´s best collection of Western art, including many French impressionists. There are also a few great Brazilian paintings: the Candido Portinaris alone are worth the trip. There are also temporary exhibits and a pleasant cafe in the basement.
- Cultural Lyceum of Arts and Crafts, dating from the start of the century.
- Contemporary Art Museum (MAC), which has many of the big names in modern art and a good collection of modern Brazilian artists.
- The Lasar Segall Museum is in the neighborhood of Vila Mariana, former home of the Lithuanian artist, who was one of the main representatives of the modernist movement in Brazil. The museum's collection includes oil and water paintings, drawings and engravings by Segall, his working utensils, library, and provides art workshops and a special room for films.
- Museum of the Sacred art, which is the best of many Sacred Heart museums in Brazil.
- State Picture Gallery and the Japanese Immigration Museum.
- Brazilian Home Museum - Permanent exposition of a collection that represents the evolution of Brazilian furniture, with information and interesting facts concerning Brazilian home and local habits, in all regions of the country since the very begining of the colonial period.
Latin America Memorial - Has a melting pot collection of Latin America countries' and people' culture.
These 4 hour museum tours cost about $47.
Park Tours - The many parks and gardens are green havens in the busy city of Sao Paulo. The largest of them is Ibirapuera Park, designed by the renowned architect and landscape artist Burle Marx, and the buildings in it designed by Oscar Niemeyer. There is a lot to do in this park, which has a lake and several monuments. Many people go there on weekends. Inside the park you can also find the headquarters of Sao Paulo's Biennial Foundation and Modern Art Museum, the planetarium for 375 spectators (being remodeling), a Japanese Pavilion and Garden for the Blind, with plants selected for their fragrance and information in Braille for the visitors. These 4 hour tours costs about $43.
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