São Paulo is a sea of people and we know it. In the latest survey carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, better known as the IBGE, São Paulo had a population of 11,451,999 inhabitants. Scattered throughout the city, some neighborhoods are larger than many cities in the country! This is the case of Grajaú, in the south of the capital.
Unfortunately, in a city as unequal as São Paulo, the peripheries are forgotten. We forget that the extremes have as much to offer (even in the midst of difficulties), from culture to gastronomy, as the best neighborhoods in the center.
Curiosities about Grajaú, São Paulo’s most populous neighborhood
👥 The famous neighborhood has almost 390,000 residents scattered throughout its streets; more inhabitants than 97.7% of Brazilian cities.
🏡 Its occupation began in the 1960s, during São Paulo’s industrial era, when the capital was in the process of expansion.
🎨 Grajaú is home to several renowned artists, including graffiti artist Alexandre Puga, who has murals all over the capital. He has even exhibited in Europe!
🏊♀️ Sesc Interlagos – despite its name, this Sesc unit is actually in Grajaú – it has one of the largest aquatic complexes among the units, and is very popular in the region.
🎙 It is extremely important for the history of national rap. It was where Criolo was born, as well as being the birthplace of one of the country’s best-known groups, the Facção Central.
🎵 Rael and GÊDE Lima (from the former trio As Bahias e a Cozinha Mineira) are other famous names on the music scene who were born in the district.
🎊 O Pagode da 27 is yet another example of how the district uses art to change its environment. Once one of the most dangerous streets in the district, samba has brought a sense of belonging to the community.
⚽️ There is a social soccer school for underprivileged children in the neighborhood, called Meninos do Brejo.
🍻 It has its own beer brand, Graja Beer. Graja Beer which produces craft beers for the bar of the same name.
5 places to visit in Grajaú:
Grajaú Cultural Center
The space dedicated to art and culture offers a complete and accessible program with theater, music, dance and much more for everyone. There, visitors can also find the Cine Sabotage, where free movie screenings take place.
📍Rua Professor Oscar Barreto Filho, 252 – Grajaú
Sailing on the Billings Dam
Espaço Meninos da Billings promotes boat trips on one of São Paulo’s most important reservoirs. The project combines tourism with environmental education and costs from R$ 260. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with nature and discover the beauties of the capital.
📍Rua Beija Flor de Cactos, 85 – Píer Lago Azul
Shangrilá Park
Located in an environmentally protected area, the park offers various leisure attractions, such as a playground, sand court, vegetable garden and monitored trails. In addition, the site is recognized for its environmental education initiatives, its flora includes endangered specimens and its fauna includes 119 species, including beautiful toucans.
📍Rua Irmã Maria Lourença, 250 – Grajaú
Peripheral Vision Tour
How about getting to know the region’s main cultural attractions on a super-authentic guided tour? Visão Periférica promotes tours that mix the best of Grajaú’s gastronomy, nature and art. To find out the next dates, just keep an eye on the project’s social networks.
📍Meeting point announced by the project before each tour
Take the Aquático-SP or the ferry to Bororé Island
It’s called an island, but it’s actually a peninsula located at the southern end of the city. To get to this environmental protection area of the Atlantic Forest, you can take the Aquático-SP or the Ilha do Bororé – Grajaú fer ry, both public transportation. This tourist spot in the city has an Ecoactive House, a historic chapel and many sites in the middle of nature.
📍Bororé neighborhood