Living in São Paulo, you always have the chance to find historic buildings as you walk down the street, which have crossed centuries to get here. One of the most emblematic examples is the Solar da Marquesa de Santos, located in the Historic Center, near the Pateo do Collegio.
Built around the 1750s, the property gained fame in the 1930s, when it became home to an important figure in Brazilian history: Domitila de Castro Canto e Melo, also known as the Marquesa de Santos. At the time, she became famous for organizing traditional masked balls for the elite, but also for being the Emperor’s mistress.
Domitila’s presence spawned several legends around the Manor House, including that it was haunted! If you’ve never heard this story, don’t worry, we’ll tell you about it in detail below.
Understand the legends surrounding Solar da Marquesa de Santos
The Marquesa lived in the mansion from 1834 to 1867, together with her husband, Brigadier Rafael Tobias de Aguiar. They both chose the place to raise their family, at a time when the Brigadier was also President of the Province of São Paulo (similar to the current position of governor).
Many believe that the manor house was the scene of extramarital encounters between Pedro and Domitila. Some even say that there is a secret tunnel in the mansion, through which the Marquise would leave “in the dead of night” to meet her lover. But this is nothing more than a myth, since when the Marquise moved in, their romance had already come to an end.
Another legend surrounding the Solar da Marquesa de Santos is that it is haunted. This is because some visitors claim to have seen the ghosts of the Marquesa and her husband hanging around the mansion!
Visit one of the oldest buildings in São Paulo!
After the Marquise’s death, the property passed to her son, Comendador Felício Pinto de Mendonça e Castro. However, financial difficulties caused him to lose the property, which passed into the hands of a new family in 1880.
The São Paulo government listed the property in 1971, turning it into the Municipal Department of Culture. And since 2018, it has housed the Museum of the City of São Paulo, with furniture, household utensils and other objects from the time. Even the bathtub that the Marquesa de Santos used is preserved there.
The Museum is located at Rua Roberto Simonsen, 136 (Sé) and welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free. So if you want to take a trip to learn about São Paulo’s history without spending too much, add it to your list of things to see.
