On September 7th, we will celebrate the 203 years of Brazilian Independence. As the setting for Dom Pedro I’s famous “shout”, São Paulo preserves several historical monuments marking the episode. An emblematic example is the Casa do Grito, which, despite not having witnessed Independence, has become one of its main landmarks.
As well as embellishing the landscape of Independence Park the Casa do Grito is a must-see for anyone who wants to celebrate São Paulo’s past and Brazil’s sovereignty. Shall we learn about its history?
Casa do Grito: witness to the Grito da Ipiranga?
It was built in the second half of the 19th century using the pau-a-pique method and is now one of the last examples of this type of architecture in São Paulo. Initially, Casa do Grito was a residence, and then it became an inn for travelers.
Its fame came in 1888, when Pedro Américo from Paraíba painted one of the most iconic pictures in Brazilian history: “Independência ou Morte” (Independence or Death), which depicts the moment when Dom Pedro I gave the “shout” on the banks of the Ipiranga. As well as the soldiers celebrating Brazil’s emancipation, the artist depicted a nice little house at the back of the scene, which corresponds to São Paulo’s Casa do Grito.
There is no historical record, however, that the building already existed at the time of the Grito do Ipiranga. Brazil’s Independence took place in 1822, while the first documents of the Casa do Grito date from 1844. Historians therefore assume that it was not present at the original scene, despite being immortalized in Américo’s painting. Even so, the building became a symbol of national sovereignty.
How to find out?
The São Paulo City Hall expropriated the Casa do Grito in 1936 and subsequently listed the property as a historical heritage site. It is currently part of the Museum of the City of São Paulo and hosts exhibitions related to the history of the capital.
Visits are free and take place from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 5pm, with no need to book in advance for spontaneous visitors. Groups, on the other hand, must make an appointment via e-mail: educativomuseudacidade@gmail.com.
Remember that Casa do Grito is located in Praça do Monumento, in Independence Park. To visit by public transport, simply take Line 3-Green of the São Paulo Metro and get off at Alto do Ipiranga or Sacomã stations.
