Have you heard of the Manequinho Lopes Nursery? If not, you can now add it to your list of hidden corners of São Paulo to visit! Located in Ibirapuera Park, the nursery is an important part of São Paulo’s history and has been helping to make the metropolis greener since the 20th century.
There, you’ll find a living collection of 200 plant species, including trees, shrubs and even Unconventional Food Plants (PANCs). These seedlings will soon take over the streets of São Paulo, making the urban landscape more beautiful and sustainable!
Manequinho Lopes Nursery: beautifying São Paulo for almost 100 years
Also known as the Municipal Nursery, the Manequinho Lopes Nursery was born in 1928 and soon became a key element in the afforestation of the São Paulo capital. Its success came from the then director of the Division of Woods, Parks and Gardens of São Paulo, Mr. Manoel “Manequinho” Lopes de Oliveira Filho, who cared for the seedlings with great affection.
Manequinho Lopes’ love for the nursery was so great that he even worked on Sundays, providing free seedlings to the public and helping to set up gardens in private homes. His efforts earned the Municipal Nursery the title of the largest and most varied in South America in 1936.
The director died in 1938 from pesticide poisoning. São Paulo City Hall then named the Municipal Nursery after him, eternalizing Manequinho’s importance to the city’s landscaping. Years later, in 1993, the site was renovated by Burle Marx, who enlarged its size and integrated it into the landscape of Ibirapuera Park.
How to visit?
Currently, the Manequinho Lopes Nursery has more than 10 greenhouses and almost 100 hanging beds, making it ideal for enjoying the environment without leaving São Paulo. The site is accessible through Gate 7 of Ibirapuera Park and is open to visitors from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 4pm, with no need to register in advance.
During the tour, you can explore the 48,000 square meters of the nursery, which houses seedlings of ipês, araucarias, sapucaias, pitangas and dozens of other species. The visit is just to enjoy them, but if you live in São Paulo, you can order seedlings from Viveiro Manequinho Lopes to plant at home! Check out the steps on the City Hall website.