The interior of São Paulo holds great architectural secrets, but few attract as much attention as José Rico’s Castle. Located 158 kilometers from the capital, the pharaonic structure has suffered from neglect for over 10 years, transforming the countryman’s dream into a scene of destruction.
However, the fate of this intriguing property may change! That’s because the city of Limeira has just declared it a public utility area, paving the way for the property’s expropriation. With this, the abandoned giant in the interior of São Paulo may be reborn as a cultural and entertainment space for the population.
The alleged prophecy about José Rico’s castle
It all began in 1991, when singer José Rico, of the duo Milionário & José Rico, decided to build a castle in Limeira to live in with his family. Thus his mansion was born, with over 100 rooms and a guitar-shaped swimming pool.
The project, however, lasted 24 years and was never completed. According to reports from the time, the artist received a prophecy that he would die as soon as construction was finished, and so he began to continuously expand the property to postpone the end of the work.
The artist passed away in 2015, and his beloved mansion became the subject of inheritance disputes and labor lawsuits. Valued at R$ 15 million, the property went up for auction several times but never attracted buyers. As a result, it became a completely abandoned castle, suffering from the ravages of time, graffiti, and the theft of personal belongings.
Abandoned mansion may have a happy ending!
After years of turmoil, the property is looking toward a promising future. The municipal decree allows for the expropriation of the area where the castle stands, which covers approximately 10,000 square meters.
The country singer’s family has not commented on the decision. However, the heirs’ legal representative told the G1 news portal that they approve of the transformation into a public asset.
The local government has not yet disclosed its plans for José Rico’s Castle, but has indicated that it aims to designate it as a historic landmark to boost local tourism. Who knows—perhaps soon, the abandoned castle in Limeira will be transformed into a museum or cultural center?
