São Paulo City Hall has resumed its program of free guided tours of the Matarazzo Building! If you like art, architecture and culture, this tour of the Viaduto do Chá star is not to be missed. But before you explore the floors of this emblematic building in São Paulo, check out the history and curiosities that our Palácio do Anhangabaú hides.
The history of the Matarazzo Building!
The current headquarters of São Paulo City Hall, the emblematic building was built between 1937 and 1939 to house the headquarters of Indústrias Reunidas Fábricas Matarazzo. The 14-storey project, in neoclassical style, was designed by Ramos de Azevedo, Severo & Villares.
After remaining under the ownership of the Audi Group for two years, the building was acquired by Banco Banespa and operated as a branch between 1974 and 2003. At the time, it was popularly known as ‘Banespinha‘. Finally, in 2004, the Matarazzo Building became the headquarters of São Paulo City Hall. Listed since 1992, it is a true icon of the São Paulo capital and has recently started receiving visitors again through free guided tours.
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Curiosities you didn’t know about this building:
Due to a superstition of the time, the Matarazzo Building does not have a 13th floor (something common in buildings erected in São Paulo at that time). Another curious detail is that the famous hanging garden on the terrace, with a carp pond and various plants, was only created in the 1960s.
Speaking of plants, there are over 400 different species to enjoy during the tour. The viewpoint is a separate attraction: from there, you can see the Municipal Theater, Shopping Light and the Anhangabaú Valley. A breathtaking view of São Paulo’s historic center!
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