Praça da Sé

Praça da Sé (English: See Square) is a public space in São Paulo, Brazil. Considered as the city's central point, it is the point from where the distance of all roads passing through São Paulo are counted. The square was the location of many historic events in São Paulo's history, most notably during the Diretas Já movement. The name originates from the episcopal see of the city, the São Paulo Cathedral.

History

Cathedral square in a photo of 1880 by Marc Ferrez. The old Cathedral of São Paulo is the church to the right.

Originally known as Largo da Sé (Field of the See), the square developed around the religious building which preceded the cathedral and surrounding edifices. At the beginning of the 20th century, older structures were demolished and the downtown area reconstructed according to the urban planning of the time. Its geography has remained mostly unchanged since.

Landscape project

The current landscape is the result of a 1970s project by architects led by José Eduardo de Assis Lefèvre. The opening of a nearby São Paulo Metro station required the leveling of an entire city block, requiring an entirely new landscaping infrastructure.

The architects were heavily influenced by contemporary landscaping works underway in the west coast of the US (such as those by Lawrence Halprin), characterized by rigorous geometry, through multiple levels with reflecting pools and prism-like land masses.

Renovation

The square underwent a significant revitalisation during 2006, having been partially re-inaugurated on January 25, 2007 (the city's anniversary) by then-mayor Gilberto Kassab. The renovation came under intense criticism by NGOs working with the homeless who claimed that the new square reduced the space available for existing homeless people^[1]

The renovation includes the relocation of flower boxes, the increase in the integration between existing sculptures and their surroundings and the introduction of pedestrian overpasses over the existing reflecting pools.

Marco Zero, in the square, is considered the official central point of São Paulo.

References

Bibliography

• MACEDO, Silvio Soares e ROBBA, Fábio; Praças brasileiras; São Paulo:Edusp; ISBN 85-314-0656-0

External links

• Sampa.art.br (Portuguese)
• Historical Assets Administration of the City of São Paulo (Portuguese)
• SampaCentro (Portuguese)

Visitor attractions in São Paulo Monuments / Landmarks Memorial da América Latina Estaiada Bridge Marco Zero Monument to the Independence of Brazil Monument to the Bandeiras Obelisk of São Paulo Torre TV Bandeirantes Buildings Altino Arantes Building Aricanduva Mall Palácio dos Bandeirantes São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) Centro Empresarial Nações Unidas Conjunto Nacional Edifício Copan Iguatemi São Paulo Edifício Itália Estação Júlio Prestes Luz Station Martinelli Building Matarazzo Building Municipal Market of São Paulo Pátio do Colégio São Bento Monastery São Paulo Cathedral (Sé) Sítio Morrinhos Temple of Solomon Teatro São Pedro Theatro Municipal Museums / Cultural Institutions Museum Afro Brasil São Paulo Museum of Sacred Art Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Instituto Butantan Casa das Rosas Ema Gordon Klabin Cultural Foundation Museu do Futebol Museu da Imigração Centro Cultural Itaú Museum of Image and Sound Museu Lasar Segall Museu Paulista (Ipiranga) Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) Museum of Modern Art (MAM) Mário de Andrade Library Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) Oca Pavillion Museum of the Portuguese Language Pinacoteca do Estado Sala São Paulo Centro Cultural São Paulo Stadiums Allianz Parque Anhembi Convention Center Anhembi Sambadrome Canindé Stadium Citibank Hall Arena Corinthians Auditório do Ibirapuera Morumbi Nicolau Alayon Stadium Pacaembu Rua Javari Stadium Via Funchal Neighborhoods / Districts Bixiga Bom Retiro Brooklin Central Zone Jardins Liberdade Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima Avenida Paulista Rua 25 de Março Rua Augusta Rua Oscar Freire University of São Paulo (USP) Vila Madalena Vila Olímpia Parks / Public Squares Parque da Aclimação Parque Anhanguera São Paulo Aquarium Beco do Batman São Paulo Botanical Garden Parque Burle Marx Parque Estadual da Cantareira Parque do Carmo Consolação Cemetery Horto Florestal Ibirapuera Park Jardim da Luz Parque da Água Branca Parque do Carmo Parque Estadual do Jaraguá Pico do Jaraguá Parque da Juventude Parque do Piqueri Praça Ramos de Azevedo Praça da República Praça Roosevelt Largo de São Francisco Praça da Sé Parque Ecológico do Tietê Parque Trianon Parque Villa-Lobos São Paulo Zoo Vale do Anhangabaú Viaduto do Chá Events Anima Mundi Brazilian Grand Prix Electronic Language International Festival March for Jesus São Silvestre Road Race São Paulo Art Biennial São Paulo Fashion Week São Paulo Gay Pride Parade São Paulo Indy 300 São Paulo International Film Festival São Paulo International Motor Show Virada Cultural