Pinheiros

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pinheiros (Portuguese for "pine trees") is a borough in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The name also refers to a river at the western edge of São Paulo. Prior to development, the land which this borough occupies was dominated by the dense forest Araucaria angustifolia, containing a Brazilian subtropical species of pine — which is also the symbol of the Paraná state.

Pinheiros is known as a "new downtown" because of recent investment and revitalization of the borough, although it is one of the oldest urban areas in São Paulo. The borough is markedly the wealthiest district of São Paulo, and it includes many elegant neighbourhoods inhabited by the Brazilian elite, such as Jardins, Alto de Pinheiros, Vila Madalena, and Itaim Bibi. Many international companies have established their Brazilian headquarters in Pinheiros, and it has also many important museums, cultural centers, luxury stores (such as Daslu), night clubs and bars. Pinheiros is home to four former mayors of São Paulo: Paulo Maluf, Celso Pitta, Marta Suplicy and José Serra.