Paraiso to Paulista: The Upmarket Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Located at the heart of São Paulo, the upmarket Paulista Avenue represents the political and economic hub of São Paulo.
Paulista Avenues was originally constructed in the year of 1891 by Joaquim Eugênio de Lima. A master plan for the avenue was devised in 1930 during the regime of President Getúlio Vargas, modeling the city after David Burnham’s master plan for Chicago through promoting the decentralisation of urban areas, development of automobile routing, as well as construction of low cost and high density buildings.
Verticalization efforts began in the 1950s in alignment with president Juscelino Kubitschek’s vision and another major structural renovation occurred in 1972 before it took the current shape as it is known today.
Today, the Paulista Avenue is home to the city’s finest shopping area, as well as impressive museums that could rival some of the world’s best.
Together with the adjacent residential neighborhood of Paraíso, these are the most intriguing neighborhoods that a first-timer to São Paulo surely cannot leave without visiting.
This guide will walk you through the key sites which can be visited while you are exploring the Paraíso and Paulista neighborhoods in the city of São Paulo. Without further ado… ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
Paulista Avenues was originally constructed in the year of 1891 by Joaquim Eugênio de Lima. A master plan for the avenue was devised in 1930 during the regime of President Getúlio Vargas, modeling the city after David Burnham’s master plan for Chicago through promoting the decentralisation of urban areas, development of automobile routing, as well as construction of low cost and high density buildings.
Verticalization efforts began in the 1950s in alignment with president Juscelino Kubitschek’s vision and another major structural renovation occurred in 1972 before it took the current shape as it is known today.
Today, the Paulista Avenue is home to the city’s finest shopping area, as well as impressive museums that could rival some of the world’s best.
Together with the adjacent residential neighborhood of Paraíso, these are the most intriguing neighborhoods that a first-timer to São Paulo surely cannot leave without visiting.
This guide will walk you through the key sites which can be visited while you are exploring the Paraíso and Paulista neighborhoods in the city of São Paulo. Without further ado… ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
How it works: The full article is featured in the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Download the app to your mobile device to read the article offline and create a self-guided walking tour to visit the sights featured in this article. The app's navigation functions guide you from one sight to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Sights Featured in This Article
Guide Name: Paraiso to Paulista: The Upmarket Sao Paulo
Guide Location: Brazil » Sao Paulo
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Andrew Darwitan
Read it on Author's Website: https://scarletscribs.wordpress.com/2025/12/22/paraiso-to-paulista-the-upmarket-sao-paulo/
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Brazil » Sao Paulo
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Andrew Darwitan
Read it on Author's Website: https://scarletscribs.wordpress.com/2025/12/22/paraiso-to-paulista-the-upmarket-sao-paulo/
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Catedral Metropolitana Ortodoxa Antioquina de São Paulo
- Church of Our Lady of Paradise
- Japan House São Paulo
- Casa das Rosas
- Sesc Avenida Paulista
- Instituto Itaú Cultural
- Capela do Hospital Santa Catarina
- Escola Estadual Rodrigues Alves
- Gazeta Theatre
- Edificio Paulista 1100
- FIESP Cultural Center
- Museum of Art of São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand
- Parque Trianon
- Parque Prefeito Mário Covas
- Residência Joaquim Franco de Melo
- Conjunto Nacional
- Paróquia São Luís Gonzaga
- Instituto Moreira Salles
Insider Tips for Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sao Paulo: the Mecca of Graffiti Art
If you like graffiti art, you will be amazed with some of the best graffiti murals is São Paulo! It was two and a half years since my last visit to São Paulo, I returned at the end of August of 2015 and realized that the city was completely covered with graffiti.
36 Hours in Sao Paulo
I would have never thought I’d say 36 hours was not enough time for visiting São Paulo. I personally am not a big city enthusiast, but always feel like I should explore for a day at the beginning or end of my wilderness trips.
Pinheiros, Sao Paulo’s Hipster Side
Between the decadent Luz and the gritty Republica, there is no doubt that São Paulo is a city of bold self expression.
But while Luz and Republica may be unfairly deemed as too troubled for some people, Pinheiros appear relatively tame if you fancy a little bit of lifestyle without the fear (a few stories about the Batman Alley aside, so exercise some level of vigilance no matter what).
But while Luz and Republica may be unfairly deemed as too troubled for some people, Pinheiros appear relatively tame if you fancy a little bit of lifestyle without the fear (a few stories about the Batman Alley aside, so exercise some level of vigilance no matter what).
A Safe Exploration of Luz, Sao Paulo’s Decadent Neighborhood
São Paulo is easily one of the most colourful cities that I have ever been to, with each of its neighborhoods displaying their own characteristic charms that are unmistakably theirs.
Part of the Bom Retiro district, Luz carries parts of São Paulo’s historical legacies but it has also unfortunately undergone some level of decay over the decades, giving it a very unique atmosphere.
Part of the Bom Retiro district, Luz carries parts of São Paulo’s historical legacies but it has also unfortunately undergone some level of decay over the decades, giving it a very unique atmosphere.
The Museum Trail of Sao Paulo
São Paulo is a city that left a lot of impression on me.
Other than just how expressive I find the Paulista to be, I also find the amount of truly high-quality museums which can be found in São Paulo to be truly astounding. The diversity of topics covered, as well as the quality of curation is something to be written home about.
This guide will walk you through the key museums which can be... view more
Other than just how expressive I find the Paulista to be, I also find the amount of truly high-quality museums which can be found in São Paulo to be truly astounding. The diversity of topics covered, as well as the quality of curation is something to be written home about.
This guide will walk you through the key museums which can be... view more
The Best Sights and Activities in Sao Paulo
If you find yourself adrift in the vast, bewildering metropolis of São Paulo, a city of ceaseless motion and innumerable possibilities, prepare for a certain degree of overwhelm. For while many travel guides might promise to share the best things to do in São Paulo, this particular account must, with a heavy sigh and a slight shudder, inform you that the true nature of such a grand urban expanse... view more
Insider Tips Overview
