São Paulo may be one of the largest metropolises in Latin America, but if you dig deep enough, you’ll find that there are still several neighborhoods in SP that are more like country towns. Despite being close to the frenzy of São Paulo, these areas hide quiet streets and peaceful routines, some even surrounded by native forest.
To visit these neighborhoods is to travel back to the São Paulo of yesteryear – before the hours-long traffic jams and the skyscrapers that dominate the skyline. Shall we get to know them?
Neighborhoods in São Paulo that look like countryside: hidden paradises in the middle of the metropolis
Mirandópolis
The neighborhood was created around 1920 to house middle-class families, mainly descendants of immigrants. From the outset, its profile was residential, with lots of houses and trees lining the streets, and a small stream running through the area.
Although it has grown a lot in recent years, Mirandópolis is still home to mansions and quiet, tree-lined streets amidst the new buildings going up in the area. It is therefore a good option for those looking for the infrastructure of the capital with the tranquillity of the countryside.
Vila Amélia
Another neighborhood in São Paulo that feels more like the countryside is Vila Amélia, in the North Zone. The curious detail is that the neighborhood is inside the Horto Florestal, and is therefore surrounded by nature!
There are more than 300 houses in the middle of the forest, which gives the area a village feel that is very rare in the capital. Although access to the neighborhood is difficult at first glance, locals say there’s no better place to live.
Vila Anglo
The neighborhood emerged in the 1920s as a stronghold for workers and immigrants. Also known as Vila Anglo Brasileira, the area was named after the former São Paulo Railway an English company that influenced its urbanization.
Today, the landscape is home to simple houses, small squares and narrow cobbled streets, which give it an inner-city feel. In addition, the neighborhood has a strong sense of community that is no longer common in metropolitan areas.
Colônia Paulista
Colônia Paulista is in the far south of São Paulo, within the Bororé-Colônia Environmental Protection Area. Also known as the German Colony, its origins date back to the 1820s, with the arrival of German immigrants whose descendants still live there today!
The neighborhood is more than 60 kilometers from the central region and is quite different from the stereotype we have of São Paulo. After all, it is surrounded by native forest, close to waterfalls, nature reserves and indigenous villages, with an almost rural landscape. Thus, Colônia Paulista – Alemã is a treasure in the middle of the metropolis, with simple houses with backyards and a quiet pace, and a strong connection with its German-Brazilian origins.