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Bela Vista is a district in downtown São Paulo. It is commonly referred as Bixiga.

[edit] Understand

Besides being one of the biggest meccas of Italian culture outside of Italy itself, Bela Vista, also known as Bexiga or Bixiga, became home to the city's most important theater venues and also has a vibrant nightlife, dotted with bars where bands, be them new or veteran, show off all their skills when it comes to rocking the place. Fashionistas and their followers have recently found the place, and usually meet at Club Glória for a chat and a dance. The section is also home to Vai-vai, Sao Paulo's most popular Samba School, which practices weekly before Carnival on a "quadra" near 14 Bis square/9 de Julho Avenue, and not too far from Our Lady Achiropita church, a center of Italian culture in the city. Despite its Italian roots, the church caters to African-Brazilians and Nordestinos --Northeastern migrants--, as well, as the section is home to many of them. So, "atabaque" drums and African rythms and rites can be part of the liturgy.

Bixiga's cantinas and pizzerias, such as Roperto and Concheta are amongst the best in the city. Try authentic fresh Portuguese rolls or Italian loaf with butter and "pingado," or "cafe' com leite" --coffee with cream-- from the bakery at the corner of Conselheiro Carrao and 13 de Maio streets. You won't regret!

On Saturdays and Sundays, an antique fair takes place at Dom Orione square between 13 de Maio street and Ruy Barbosa avenue near Morro dos Ingleses --Hill of the English-- with its colonial style steps and lightpoles that lead to Rua dos Ingleses & Franceses square with some modern sculpture fountains as part of a residential building complex. Some early 20th century mansion leftovers can still be appreciated on both streets.

There are a few small theaters in the area, and the most important ones are located on Rui Barbosa avenue --Sergio Cardoso State Theater,-- and Brigadeiro Luis Antonio avenue, which is often called the "Broadway Brasileira" because musicals such as The Beauty & the Beast and Phantom of The Opera and Miss Saigon have been presented at the Abril Cultural Center in a former Paramount movie theater.

East of Brigadeiro, on Martiniano de Carvalho street, already in the Liberdade section, the vast baroque Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, decorated with frescos by Benedito Calixto, a legendary local painter, is worth the visit! Se' and Republica squares are within walking distance from here, but there is a subway station (Blue Line) near Liberdade avenue that can take you norht or south of Bela Vista/Liberdade. Going South to Paraiso Station where Saint George Syrian Orthodox Cathedral is, a connection can be made with the Green Line to Paulista avenue, where still in the section of Bela Vista, the most important museum or European paintings, MASP is located, which has a superb buffet in its basement restaurant. Trianon Park is across the avenue with some native Brazilian/Paulistan tree species. An antique fair happens in the vault under MASP building every Sunday. Within walking distance from Paraiso Metro station, going west, is the Shopping Paulista Mall. Further South from Paraiso, Arab restaurants with delicious kibe and sfiha filled with white cheese or ground meat can be tasted. The next station will be Ana Rosa with an upscale neighborhood, surrounded by Presbyterian, Baptist & Arabic Evangelical churches and a synagogue, as well as the elaborate tower of the Nossa Senhora da Saude Catholic church in front of the Santa Cruz Shopping Mall & subway station. Two upscale gay saunas Borges Lagoa and For Friends are also located in the area.

[edit] Get in

• Future station Bixiga and Treze de Maio of metro line 6.
• Buses that drive on avenues Brigadeiro Luís Antônio and 9 de julho.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Theaters

• Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia (TBC), Rua Major Diogo 315, tel. +55 11 3104-5523.
• Teatro Bibi Ferreira, Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio 931, tel. +55 11 3105-3129.
• Ágora Centro de Desenvolvimento Teatral, Rua Rui Barbosa, 672, +55 11 3284-0290
• Teatro Jardel Filho, Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, 88 - Bixiga, +55 11 3107-3364.
• Teatro Jofre Soares, Rua Major Diogo, 547 - Bixiga, +55 11 3105-9463.
• Teatro Maria Della Costa, Rua Paim, 72 - Bixiga, +55 11 3256-9115.
• Teatro Oficina, Rua Jaceguai - Bixiga, 520, +55 11 3106-2818, Political epicenter in the 1960's.
• Teatro Pirandello, Rua Major Diogo, 578 - Bixiga, +55 11 3242-3393.
• Teatro Sérgio Cardoso, Rua Rui Barbosa, 153 - Bexiga, +55 11 3288-0136 .
• Teatro Ruth Escobar, Rua dos Ingleses, 209 - Bixiga, +55 11 3289-2358.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

Italian food, of course, is the main attraction.

• Bassi, Rua 13 de Maio, 668, tel. 11 3288-7045. The exception is a meat specialist.
• Cantina D'Angelo, Rua Humaitá, 258, tel. 11 3106-4274.
• Capuano, Rua Conselheiro Carrão, 416, tel. 11 3288-1460.
• Il Cacciatore, Rua Santo Antônio, 855, tel. 11 3120-5119.
• La Penisola,Rua João Passaláqua, 170, tel. 11 3112-2592.
• Montechiaro, Rua Santo Antônio, 844/846, tel. 11 3259-2727.
• Roperto, Rua 13 de Maio, 634, tel. 11 3288-2573.
• Taberna do Julio, Rua Conselheiro Carrão, 392 tel. 11 3289-0421.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Afro Spot, Rua 13 de Maio, 48, tel. 11 3151-3974.
• Clube Glória, Rua Treze de Maio, 830, tel. 11 3287-3700. Designers, models and their friends.[1]

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Contact