Bairro da Liberdade stands out for its cultural diversity among oriental and African peoples, but did you know that this pulsating tourist hotspot still has room for a historic Portuguese village? Among Japanese lanterns, oriental shops and cultural festivals, there is a little piece of Portugal that has stood the test of time and is now considered an architectural treasure of the city. And it’s not just any space: this iconic residential complex has been the setting for films, music videos and even commercials for major brands such as Coca-Cola and 99Pay.
Meet the secret villa in the heart of SP!
The residential complex was designed by Portuguese builder José Ferreira da Rocha at the beginning of the 20th century. Despite having been inspired by English villas, the Lusitanian touch is unmistakable: some façades still display original Portuguese tiles, preserved for decades.
Vila Portuguesa is made up of 51 semi-detached houses, most of them two-storey. In 2012, these little architectural gems were listed by CONPRESP, ensuring that they remain firmly in the heart of Liberdade. A curious detail is that the builder himself, Ferreira da Rocha, also built sobrados in Bexiga and even lived in a mansion on Avenida Liberdade, now replaced by an FMU building.
Visit this Portuguese Village!
The tour is free and open to the public every day, but remember: this is a residential complex still inhabited by families. So the tip is to visit with respect, just strolling through the inner streets, admiring and photographing the houses.
Access is easy: you just have to walk about 10 minutes from Liberdade Station on Line 1-Azul of the Metro to Rua José Ferreira da Rocha. Get ready for a real trip back in time, in the heart of São Paulo, with the tranquillity of a little Portuguese town in the middle of the metropolis.
