From Wikitravel

São Paulo's city centre (Centro) is the area around the Sé Square. After decades of relative abandonment, when other areas such as the Paulista region took the spotlight in the city's development, it is confidently regaining importance and taking its place as the city's historic core and a vibrant commercial and cultural zone.

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Within the walls of Pateo do Collegio, São Paulo was founded on January 25 in 1554. Besides the Museu Casa de Anchieta, the Solar da Marquesa de Santos, a rare specimen of urban residence of the 18th century, is also worth a visit. Praça da Sé is also in the Old City Center, with its famous 14-tower cathedral, built in a Gothic and Renaissance style. Continuing along Vale do Anhangabaú, one comes upon perhaps the city’s tallest building, the Banespa building, also known as Banespão. It is 35 stories tall, and its free to go up and enjoy the breathtaking view. Near historic Ladeira da Memória overlooking Largo de São Bento, sits the 17th century monastery, where mass is still held against a backdrop of Gregorian chants. The monks' bakery is a temptation. Give in, it’s no sin. The Viaduto do Chá, or Tea Overpass, marks the transition to the New City Center. All around República Square, there are buildings that bear witness to many different architectural styles: the 1935 Edifício Esther, considered the first with a modern architectural design; the S-shaped Edifício Copan designed by Oscar Niemeyer; and Edifício Itália dating from 1965, with its 44 floors, and on top, a bar, restaurant and view to take your breath away. Edificio Itália is on Ipiranga Avenue whose intersection with São João Street inspired the composer Caetano Veloso when he wrote the song “Sampa.”

Near the neighborhood of Luz, Tiradentes Avenue is home to excellent attractions. One is Museu de Arte Sacra, with its wealth of religious images (Museu da Natividade is housed there) and where Carmelite Nuns prepare Frei Galvão pills, which many consider to be miraculous. Another is the Pinacoteca, where high quality temporary exhibits share the stage with the museum’s fantastic painting and sculpture collection. In Estação da Luz, there is the Museu da Língua Portuguesa, an interactive museum that provides a sensorial trip through the Portuguese language. If the weather is nice, take a stroll through Jardins da Luz. In the Old City Center, the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center—once the bank’s first headquarters in São Paulo—offers an excellent program of arts, movies, theater and music at accessible prices. In the neighborhood of Consolação, the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, the largest in the city, has 3.8 million titles.

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For classical music fans, there are two traditional addresses downtown. The first is the Teatro Municipal, where the historic Modern Art Week took place in 1922. The building itself, designed by Ramos de Azevedo in 1911, is reason enough to justify a visit. Almost directly across the street, the building now called Shopping Light, another of Azevedo’s designs, was the headquarters of an English company that first electrified the city and built the now nostalgic city streetcars. Heading towards the neighborhood of Luz, don’t miss the breathtaking Sala São Paulo, located in the one-time Estação Júlio Prestes. Considered the most outstanding in Brazil, the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (OSESP) plays its concerts there. It’s possible to pre-arrange guided visits of the theater and main hall. While you’re there, check out Teatro Abril (the old Paramount) that hosts the most popular Broadway-style musicals south of the equator. The theater is no stranger to famous international productions, the Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, and now the Phantom of the Opera.

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A little bit of everything is available in Centro. Rock, samba and guitar enthusiasts and fans of all types of music coexist peacefully in the corridors of the Galeria do Rock, a prime example of pre-mall architecture. There, you can search and buy from from T-shirts sporting underground Japanese bands, to hard-to-find CDs. The Old City Center, especially around the Law School on Largo São Francisco, is the place to go if you’re looking for rare, discounted or out-of-print books. There are several good used bookstores in the area, some—such as the Messias—are traditional São Paulo favorites.

If you’re looking for bargains on anything related to electronics, from microchips to ultra-modern monitors, you have to go to Santa Ifigênia Street. For costume jewelry, accessories, domestic utensils and other knick-knacks, don’t hesitate to go to 25 de Março Street, the most famous collection of warehouses in Brazil. Several specialty business streets are also in this area.

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Contrast is the area's middle name. You can eat well both in traditional local eateries or elegant restaurants. The famous bauru - a ham, mozzarella and tomato sandwich - was invented at Ponto Chic. After shopping on 25 de Março Street, pop over to the Mercado Municipal to sample the most beloved pastries and sandwiches in the city. A truly traditional outing in São Paulo, the Mercadão, as it also known, is a mosaic of color and flavor that showcases a little something from all the different nationalities that settled in the capital. And don’t forget to pick up some other local delicacies, spices and fruits.

Just outside Downtown, in the neighborhood of Liberdade, the famous Japanese, Chinese and Korean restaurants are only a few of the many attractions. The little shops along Galvão Bueno Street, illuminated by beautiful oriental-style white streetlamps, are a great option for a stroll. On Sundays, Praça da Liberdade hosts an enjoyable fair selling crafts and typical local cuisine. While you’re there, take advantage and visit the Museu da Imigração Japonesa.

• Kinoshita, Rua da Glória 168, Liberdade, ☎ 011/3105-4903. Moderately priced Japanese restaurant that mixes the fresh fish and produce with Western and Japanese ingredients.  edit

• Roperto, Rua 13 de Maio 634, Bixiga, ☎ 011/3288-2573. Cosy and comfortable Italian restaurant that serves trypical Italian fare. Be sure to try the baby goat's leg with potatoes and tomatoes, its a speciality of the house.  edit

• Le Casserole, Largo do Arouche 346, Centro, ☎ 011/3331-6283. Charming French bistro that is adorned with vintage posters and offers culinary delights such as homemade cherry strudles and roast lamb.  edit

• Gigetto, Rua Avanhandava 63, Centro, ☎ 011/3256-9804. Unsure of what to eat? At Gigetto, with over 200 options on the menu, you'll be sure to find something that takes your fancy. And with generous portions (a main course can serve two people), its great value for money as well.  edit

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• Bar Brahma, Av. São João 677, Centro, ☎ 011/3333-0855. One of the best places in São Paulo for live music, especially on Thursday and Sunday, when tradtional samba plays. A local favorite for decades.  edit

• Cafe Piu Piu, Rua 13 de Maio 134, Bixiga, ☎ 011/3258-8066. The place to go for live music, especially jazz and blues. Has an old world feel with marble bar tops and antique balconies, but its the perfect place to hear good music.  edit

• Bar Leo, Rua Aurora, 100 - São Paulo, ☎ (11) 3221-0247. Go for the beer, reportedly the best beer in town, served with a minimum of three fingers of foam.Always full and popular with locals and visitors alike.  edit

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• Comfort Hotel Downtown, Rua Araujo, 141 Sao Paulo. Modern hotel with comfortable beds and pillows and great water pressure. Price includes a buffet breakfast, plentiful and delicious, and costing only USD 6 (free on weekends), served in a beaultiful room adjacent to the well appointed lobby.  edit

• Mercure Hotel, Rua Araujo, 141. Three star hotel located 7 km away from the airport and contains a fitness centre, a sauna, a swimming pool, an Italian restaurant and bar.  edit

• Novotel Sao Paulo Jaragua, Rua Martins Fontes 71 - R Major Quedinho 44. With 27 floors and 220 hotel rooms, be sure to ask for a room on the upper floors, for great views over the city. Ideal location for those wishing to explore downtwon Sao Paulo, with the hotel located less than a five minute walk from a metro station. Good buffet breakfast served, somewhat pricey but will fill you up.  edit

• Plaza Hotel, Av. Sao Joao 407 Centro. Cheap rates apply for this small hotel, with rooms furnished simply and basic amentieis.  edit

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