Monday

Historic Downtown

Breakfast: Café Girondino

Start the day having a nice breakfast at the traditional Café Girondino, in front of Monastery São Bento.

Morning Ride: Catedral da Sé/ Mosteiro de São Bento

Mosteiro de São Bento. Foto: José Cordeiro/SPTuris

After a brief visit to the Pateo do Collegio, where the city was born, walk to Praça da Sé, where the beautiful cathedral of the same name is located. Don’t forget to check the city’s Marco Zero on the square.

Going back a little, there is Mosteiro de São Bento, one of the first constructions of the city and where, to this day, there are several Benedictine monks. There is a store with fine products like cakes, biscuits and breads, all made by the monks themselves with prime ingredients.

Lunch: Mercado Municipal

Mercado Municipal. Photo: José Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

The Mercadão is a city highlight. It’s got it all and it’s all first class quality. However, before going there, go on the mezzanine. There are several restaurants that have from arab food to great coffe shops to try the famous mortadella sandwich and codfish pastel, both well served.

Afternoon ride: Mercadão/ Rua 25 de Março/ Downtown

Rua 25 de Março. Foto: Jose Cordeiro/SPTuris

Mercado Municipal has a beautiful architecture and its showcases, its fruits, spices and tasteful ingredients, some exotic, are worth it the while for a longer look. And, after eating lots of food, how about a stroll at Rua 25 de Março? The street is one the city’s most famous and a mega commercial center. There, it is possible to find decoration objects, home utensils, purses and bags, shoes, costume stores, trinket stores, and many others, at a popular price.

Another ride option, if your idea is not shopping, is to walk around the city’s historic downtown, where there are Espaço Bovespa – stock market building, Edifício Matarazzo, the city hall Viaduto do Chá, Vale do Anhangabaú, Theatro Municipal and many other touristic locations.

Dinner: Terraço Itália

In order to stay downtown, the tip is to have dinner at Terraço Itália. The place is fancy and quite traditional. Even if you’re looking for something casual, it is worth it for the amazing panoramic 360 degrees view of the city, once it’s located on the top of Edifício Itália, one of the highest in São Paulo.

Addresses and telephones:

Catedral da Sé
Address: Praça da Sé, s/nº – Sé – São Paulo.
Working Hours: Mondays to Fridays, from 8am to 7pm. Saturdays, from 8am to 5pm, e Sundays, from 8am to 6pm.
Tel.: (+55 11) 3107 6832.

Mosteiro de São Bento
Address: Largo de São Bento, s/nº – São Bento – São Paulo.
Working Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays, from 6am to the end of the 6pm mass. Saturdays and Sundays, from 6am to 12pm and from 4pm to 6pm. Thursdays the church closes at 8am and reopens at 11:30am.
Tel.: (+55 11) 3328 8799.

Mercado Municipal
Address: Rua da Cantareira, 306 – Sé – São Paulo.
Working Hours: wholesale: Mondays to Saturdays, from 10pm to 6am. Retail: Mondays to Saturdays, from 6am to 6pm. Sundays and holidays, from 6am to 4pm.
Tel.: (+55 11) 3313 3365.

Terraço Itália
Address: Av. Ipiranga, 344 – República – São Paulo.
Working Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, from 12pm to 3pm and from 7pm to 12am. Fridays, from 12pm to 3pm and from 7pm to 1am. Saturdays, from 12pm to 4pm and from 7pm to 1am, and Sundays, from 12pm to 4pm and from 7pm to 11pm.
Tel.: (+55 11) 2189 2929.

Café Girondino
Address: Rua Boa Vista, 365 – Sé – São Paulo.
Working Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, from 7am30 to 10pm30. Fridays, from 7:30am to 11pm. Saturdays, from 8am to 8pm and Sundays and holidays, from 8am to 5pm.
Tel.: (+55 11) 3229 4574 or (+55 11) 3229 1287.

Espaço Bovespa
Address: Rua 15 de Novembro, 275 – São Bento – São Paulo.
Working Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, from 7am to 10pm.
Tel.: (+55 11) 3233 2000.

Edifício Matarazzo
Address: Viaduto do Chá, 15 – Vale do Anhangabaú – São Paulo.

Theatro Municipal
Address: Praça Ramos de Azevedo, s/nº – República – São Paulo.
Tel.: (+55 11) 3397 0300.