Central Zone of São Paulo

Limits

Officially, the central area is bounded by districts of Municipality Cathedral. However, the social perception of what is called "center of São Paulo" varies and may include other areas of city. Until the creation of the administrative office of the cathedral, the notion of "center" was equivalent to the region of the former administration regional office, who also included the districts of Brás and Pari, currently covered by a Municipality of Mooca. The concept of a central area of São Paulo, however, is wider depending on the study is done about the region and may include items such as financial centers Paulista Avenue and Berrini.

Social Characteristics

According to the 2000 census, the total population of the area is 374,002 inhabitants, including the neighborhoods and districts of Sé itself, Bela Vista, Bom Retiro, Cambuci, Consolação, Aclimação, Brás, Liberdade, República and Santa Cecília. It is the least populated administrative region in the city, albeit one with a wider range of public facilities and jobs. The average income in the area is R$ 2335.54, and each year the central area of São Paulo has a rate negative of population growth that reaches 5% per year, according to IBGE and SEADE statistics.

This factor contributed to what has been called degradation the region, as some experts in urban studies, with the removal of the São Paulo elite of the central areas, occurs along the removal of public stewardship, leading to a sense of abandonment. Despite showing an average income higher than that of other regions of the city, it has many homeless individuals and pockets of poverty, such as the region known as Cracolândia (lit. "Crackland"), which has recently been undergoing a controversial process of revitalization by the city government, accused of promoting "social hygiene" through gentrification.

The Centro region is the most well-served by public transportation, with four of the five Metrô subway lines operating in the area, along with several CPTM commuter rail lines. It is also home to some of the major institutions of higher education in the city, as Mackenzie University, The Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP) and units of the University of São Paulo (USP), like Law School, The University Center on Maria Antonia Street, and the headquarters of the USP Post-Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Affairs.

Key points

Viaducts

Chá Viaduct

Santa Ifigênia Viaduct

Anhangabaú Square

Avenue and Streets

Prestes Maia Avenue

Tiradentes Avenue

Brigadeiro Luís Antônio Avenue

Liberdade Avenue

Estado Avenue

Avenida São João

Ipiranga Avenue

Rio Branco Avenue

23 de Maio Avenue

9 de Julho Avenue

Angélica Avenue

Paulista Avenue

Conselheiro Furtado Street

15 de Novembro Street

Rua 25 de Março

Porto Geral Alley

Consolação Street

Augusta Street

Maria Antonia Street

Dona Veridiana Street

Higienópolis Avenue

Carmo Street

Vergueiro Street

Squares

Praça da Sé

Praça da República

Praça Doutor João Mendes

Praça Ramos de Azevedo

Pátio do Colégio

Largo do Arouche

Largo São Bento

Largo do Paiçandu

Largo de São Francisco

Largo da Misericórdia

Metro and commuter railway stations

Metro Stations

Line 1 (Blue)

Vergueiro

São Joaquim

Liberdade

Sé

São Bento

Luz

Tiradentes

Armênia

Line 2 (Green)

Consolação

Trianon-Masp

Brigadeiro

Line 3 (Red)

Pedro II

Sé

Anhangabaú

República

Santa Cecília

Marechal Deodoro

Line 4 (Yellow)

Luz

República

Higienópolis-Mackenzie

Paulista

CPTM commuter railway stations

Line 7 (Ruby), Line 10 (Turquoise) and Line 11 (Coral)

Luz

Line 8 (Diamond)

Major Shopping Centers

Shopping Light

Shopping Frei Caneca

Shopping Paulista

Shopping Pátio Higienópolis

Major Parks

Jardim da Luz

Parque da Aclimação

Parque Dom Pedro II

Colleges and universities

Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo – Fundação Getúlio Vargas (EAESP/FGV)

Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie

Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo (FDUSP) – USP

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP)

Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia – Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo – (CCET/PUC-SP)

Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP)

Escola da Cidade (AEAUSP)

Liceu de Artes e Ofícios de São Paulo (LAO-SP)

Faculdade de Tecnologia de São Paulo (FATEC-SP)

Conservatório Dramático e Musical de São Paulo (CDMSP)

Universidade Livre de Música – Centro de Estudos Musicais Tom Jobim

Hospitals

Hospital Samaritano

Hospital Santa Catarina

Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (ISCMSP)

Hospital Nove de Julho

Hospital Sírio-Libanês

Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz

Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo

Culture and Leisure

Mário de Andrade Library

Theatro Municipal

São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP)

Museum of the Portuguese Language

Sala São Paulo

Pinacoteca do Estado

Museu de Arte Saca

Sociedade Brasileira de Cultura Japonesa

Rivers

Tamanduateí River

Churches

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men

Church and Convent of Saint Francis (São Paulo)

Church of the Wounds of the Seraphic Father Saint Francis

Buildings

Major buildings in the central zone of São Paulo:

Sightseeing

Torre Banespa ("Banespa Tower"), situated on the highest point of the Altino Arantes Building and Edifício Itália are the main sightseeing places in the region and São Paulo as a whole, providing a privileged views of the city with a range of up to 40 kilometers, making it possible to see other city landmarks such as the Mercado Municipal, the São Paulo Cathedral, Edifício Copan and even Serra da Cantareira at distance. Mirante do Vale Building, completed in 1960, although not well known as a sightseeing place due to its location at the bottom of a valley, is still the tallest building in the Central Zone of São Paulo.