Anyone passing by Rua Bom Pastor, in Ipiranga, might think that Palácio dos Cedros is just a place for fancy events in the city, but don’t be fooled: the mansion was once the residence of the Jafet family, one of the wealthiest in São Paulo in the 20th century.
With four floors and more than 50 rooms, the emblematic building was designed by the Heribaldo Siciliano construction company, also responsible for other architectural beauties in SP, such as the Post Office Palace and the University of São Paulo Medical School.
The history of Palácio dos Cedros
Inaugurated in 1923, the residence was home to one of the Jafet brothers, Basílio, and his wife, Adma. The family, of Lebanese origin, was a pioneer in the industrialization of São Paulo, forming one of the largest business groups in the country. The name Palácio dos Cedros was given because of the garden surrounded by cedar trees, vegetation native to Lebanon.
Ten years after Basílio Jafet‘s death in 1957, his daughters left the property. After that, it was rented out and sold to a company that started using it as a venue for high-level events. In 2005, the palace was listed by the Municipal Council for the Preservation of the Historical, Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the City of São Paulo (CONPRESP), along with five other houses belonging to the Jafet family in the Ipiranga neighborhood.
Is it possible to visit the Palácio dos Cedros?
Unfortunately, the Palácio dos Cedros is not free to visit. The venue functions as an event space for wedding parties, debutantes, fashion shows and corporate meetings, subject to reservations that can cost up to R$70,000.
Even so, the imposing Jafet residence is a building that highlights the family’s legacy in the capital and their contribution to the city’s development. That’s why it’s worth learning about its history and, perhaps, visiting when the opportunity arises.