Day 63 - São Paulo (Part 3)

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

My next destination was the Cathedral da Sé. On my way there, I saw many interesting buildings, some of which I don't know the names of because it wasn't stated on the building. Among the buildings I saw (and which I knew the names of) were Edificio Altino Arantes, Edificio Martinelli, BM&F Bovespa, Banco de São Paulo (now occupied by a ministry known as the Secretaria de Estado da Juventude, Esporte e Lazer - this reminded be of my former boss Mr. Robert Lazar and made me laugh), Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, and Edificio Guinie built in 1913. There were older buildings, as old as 1909 but I couldn't find its name, only the year was left on the building.

Then the Cathedral da Sé, also known as the Cathedral Metropolitana. The Cathedral is located in a place called Praça da Sé, which is at the heart of downtown São Paulo. It is considered point zero or Marco Zero where distances to other cities are measured. The cathedral was commissioned by the archbishop of São Paulo, Duarte Leopoldo e Silva, to replace an older demolished church. Work on the cathedral began in 1912, but due to the 2 World Wars and finance troubles, it was only mostly completed by 1954, and the 2 monumental towers were only finished in 2002. It was designed by a German architect, Maximilian Hehl, and has a Gothic and Renaissance design. Many Italian, French and Hungarian artists contributed to decorating the cathedral's interior. The cathedral's 2 towers have a height of almost 100 meters.

I have come to the conclusion that all churches in South America, at least the more notable ones, are just beautiful. The churches in Malaysia are nowhere nearly as beautiful as the churches here, perhaps because Catholicsm is the main religion in this region. 

Almost beside the cathedral is a building known as Edifício Rolim. When this building was completed in 1928, it was one of the city's highest structures. It is a beautiful building. 

Next on my list is the Pateo do Collegio, which is a monument with a statue of a lady with outstretched hands on top of the monument. Here there was also a museum called Museu Anchieta, and across the road was the Secretaria Justica and the Tribunal de Justica. 

Next on my list was the Copan building. Here I lost my way again, and ended up passing the cathedral again. By accident, I came across the Theatro Municipal which is a beautiful building. Sometimes it's good to get lost I guess. And then I was on the right track. Before Edificio Copan there was Edificio Italia, also a beautiful skyscraper. Then Edificio Copan, which is considered the largest residential building in the world.  The 115 meters S-shaped building was designed in the 1950s by none other than the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer (I am officially a fan, so creative he is!). Unfortunately I think it was under some kind of renovation as the entire building was covered in some ugly blue sheets. 

The last place I went to on foot was the Igreja da Consolacao. This church was built in 1907 as a replacement to an older chapel, the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Consolação, and has one of the highest church towers in São Paulo, rising 75 meters (the cathedral's towers are higher of course). This church was also designed by the German architect Maximilian Hehl (who also designed the cathedral) and has a Gothic design as well.