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By Sueli Loiola
Nowadays, there's a high school and college with the same name and it's near São Bento subway station. But there is a great history behind it! Everything started when Benedictines arrived in 1598, but the construction of the Abbey happened in 1634. The architecture is from 17th century, it was based on German tradition and designed by the architect Richard Brend. Frescos and murals were made by Albert Gresnicht, a Benedictian Deutsch. He followed the School of Arts in Prague.The current building, projected and built by him, was built about 1910 to 1922. The monks from monastery follow Saint Benedict – or Sao Bento - wish of finding their sustenance and they performed their activities in the Abbey, among other internal responsibilities as chaplaincies and teacher in the school and college. In website, we can check schedule such as Gregorian chants following by organ. Also, you can find cakes, bread, candy, cookies and jam in their shop. All of it are made by monks with their own receipts. The prices are a little higher but everything is awesome to taste. Just to have an idea, the Pão São Bento (a kind of bread) costs R$ 12.00 (around US$ 6.00 or £ 4.00). Instead of bread, you'll love Honey Bread (Pão de Mel) with strawberry jam. Those were a couple examples of what you will find there. Also, you can find books at the store and traditional medals. Café Girondion is in front of Monastery and they serve juices, pastries, candies, cakes. Also, you can drink a beer! Enjoy! By Sueli Loiola Japanese people came to Brazil for the first time in 1908, when Kasatu Maru arrived in the Santos Harbour. Firstly, they lived in other cities before come to São Paulo. A lot of immigrants came during World War I to work and begin a new life. In 1912, the Liberdade's neighbourhood was featured by Japanese when they started to live in Rua Conde de Sarzedas. Firstly, Japanese lived in other cities before come to São Paulo. After that, the Japanese who lived and worked on farms started to come to São Paulo. They started to live together and preserve their traditions. All these traditions you can find in this neighbourhood. You'll find Japanese Food, some literatures such as Manga and also, some festivals like Chinese New Year. Every year they use to celebrate it. Most of people who lived in Liberdade speak Japanese. Some come from Japan but most of them are descendants of the first Japanese. It looks that you're in another country even you're living in Brazil. Actually, it's interesting observe their culture and way of life. So, I recommend you to visit the neighbourhood and also the Museum. It's an incredible place to know. By Sueli Loiola The area of Consolação was founded when followers of Our lady of Consolation (Nossa Senhora da Consolação) erected a chapel dedicated to Mary in 1779. At that time, the region was only a small plantation with vegetables, tea and fruits. Nowadays this is modern Consolação street. In 1799, everything changed when the chapel became a church and the place started to develop. This was particularly favourable as the region was away from any city. On local maps in 1834 show the terrain was not friendly - quite the contrary - near the church there was swamplands and it encouraged the government plan improvements for the region. The followers of Our Lady created a group of women to help people with illness and disease in the area. The ladies became quite famous , receiving support from the Baron of Tiete who provided building to help people with leprosy. Other people still came at Consolação, with other curable and incurable diseases (such as cholera) and many of them are buried within the proximity of the church. As a result, the government of Portugal told the Bishop of the church to construct a cemetery. It was decided it would be located away from the city, in current day Alto da Consolação. The construction of the cemetery began in 1854 and was opened on July, 3th 1858. After some years, the cemetery had became a landmark in its own right due to the traditional families and important artists buried there. Also, we can see sculptures from Victor Brechert and other artistic objects & creations. Avenues and streets Streets and avenues were built in 1965 and concluded in 1968. In 1972, a space for local stores between Paulista avenue and D. Antonia de Queiroz street was developed. This included a cinema, restaurants, bars and local residential plots. Currently, in Consolação neighborhood, Augusta street and Angélica avenue there are banks, stores, great number of hotels, restaurants, postgraduates center, a presbiterian university and the region has a system of subways. Consolação street has access to other neighborhood such as Jardins, Itaim, etc. This is the interesting history behind one of the biggest and most important avenues in Sao Paulo. This is Sao Paulo: built by people, built by you.
By Sueli Loiola Ramos de Azevedo – most famous architect in 20’s – had planned a french style house in a street - that we know as Avenida Paulista - for his daughter Lucia; she lived there with her family, then her son. However, Ramos couldn’t see the project of his house ended, because he died seven years before it in June 12, 1928. The construction was ended by Felisberto Ransini. In 1986, the government of São Paulo inappropriate the house when in 1985 it was considered a patrimony. The house passed for a restauration in the same year until 1991. Then it opened by Department of Culture as a cultural space and it called Casa das Rosas. In 2004, it was reopened because in last year it passed for a reform, now Casa das Rosas has a new mission: a place for literature and cultural events . Each two months the house have some classes for writers and who is interest in literature, musical events, plays, etc. The house is open to visit, you can enter and see how beautiful it is. I took some photos there and I assure you it seems back in time. Look inside house and see, think what kind of reason Ramos had to planned it or who lived there, how they lived. Each place in house you can see, admire and think that anything wouldn’t possible without people dreaming a dream. This house was a dream, particular dream indeed but now, it is used for visit, know and why not dream something like this! You’re our guest and you’ll be welcome. |