São Paulo is a sea of people and we know it. In the latest survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, better known as IBGE, São Paulo had a population of 11,451,999 inhabitants. Scattered throughout the city, some neighborhoods are bigger 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 outskirts are forgotten. We forget that they 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 90% 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. And he’s even exhibited in Europe!
🏊♀️ There, the Sesc Interlagos — despite its name, this Sesc unit is actually in Grajaú — which has one of the largest aquatic complexes among the units, and is very popular in the region.
🎙 It’s extremely important for the history of national rap. That’s where Criolo, as well as being the birthplace of one of the country’s best-known groups, the Central Faction.
🎵 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 another example of how the neighborhood 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 children in vulnerable situations in the neighborhood, called Meninos do Brejo.
🍻 He has his own brand of beer, the Graja Beer, which produces craft beers for the bar of the same name.