This weekend: The monastery that houses a German organ with nearly 7,000 pipes will host candlelit concerts in São Paulo

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Stephanye Martins

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  October 9, 2026

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Amid the hustle and bustle of downtown São Paulo , next to the São Bento subway station, there is a place that seems to have escaped the city’s pace. The Monastery of São Bento has stood there for over 400 years, since July 14, 1598, when the Benedictine community was founded.

And there’s an interesting fact that might go unnoticed by those who only know the monastery from the outside: inside, there’s a German organ with nearly 7,000 pipes.

The instrument is a Walcker, manufactured in Germany and inaugurated on November 26, 1954. According to a study by ANPPOM, experts have even called it“the best organ in Brazil.”

And this fits in quite well with the history of the place. Music has been part of the monastery’s life for centuries: Sunday Mass is known for its Gregorian chant, which is still part of the celebrations.

This weekend, the monastery will host two Candlelight concerts: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and a concert dedicated to Mozart & Beethoven, featuring classical music performed live amid thousands of candles.

It’s the kind of program that starts as a concert and ends with you discovering a little more about the city itself.

Tickets for the concerts are now available on Fever.