Parque do Ibirapuera

Parque do Ibirapuera is a major urban park in São Paulo city. It's pretty safe and there is a large area for leisure, jogging and walking, as well as lots of different museums. Parque do Ibiriapuera is so important to São Paulo as the the Central Park is to New York City.

History

Inaugurated in 1954 for the 400 anniversary of the city with buildings designed by famous architects, such as Oscar Niemeyer and landscape by designer Roberto Burle Marx, Parque do Ibirapuera covers an area of almost two square kilometers.The second biggest park in the city. Entrance is free of charge.

What to do
It's a wonderful place to do jogging and walking, reading, there are some places to practice skating and roller blade. All over the park, you step over the bicycle lane that goes to everywhere. It's possible to rent bikes or bring your own.

Features

The park complex contains several buildings, most of them designed by Oscar Niemeyer. They include:

1- Monumento às Bandeiras - Launched in 1954 is recognized as one of the most important monuments of São Paulo. It's one of the most well known in whole city. Started in 20's it was built to celebrate the first century of Brazil's Independence.

2- Manoel da Nóbrega Pavilion - Which until 1992 was the city hall and now is the Museu Afro Brasil.

Schedule: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am until 5pm. It's possible to stay until 6pm;

3- Planetarium and Municipal Astrophysics School - The Planetarium building is shaped like a flying saucer. It was the first Planetarium in the Southern Hemisphere and has a dome of 20 meters in diameter. A German projection machine shows the sky above São Paulo from dusk to dawn. During the projection a professional astronomer explains the most famous stars and constellations as well as the movements of the Earth and other planets.

Schedule: Planets of Universe, Saturday and Sunday 3pm and 7pm. Inside the Sun, Saturday and Sunday 5pm;

4- Japanese Pavilion - Built in 1954, was designed as a gift to the Japanese community of Brazilian society during the celebrations of the fourth centenary of the city of São Paulo held that year. Now a days, it is one of the major symbols of Japanese community in Brazil.

5- Armando de Arruda Pereira Pavilion, home for the Prodam - Companhia de Processamento de Dados do Município ("Municipal Data Processing Company");

6- Auditório do Ibirapuera - Controversial building that was on the original Niemeyer plan, but was only built recently. Programs can be found at http://www.auditorioibirapuera.com.br/ tickets can be bought through ticketmaster http://www.ticketmaster.com.br/

7- Lucas Nogueira Garcez Pavilion - Known as Oca ("hut", given its round shape), which hosts both the Museu da Aeronáutica ("Air Force Museum") and the Museu do Folclore ("Folklore Museum");

8- Museu de Arte Moderna - Where the MAM ("Modern Art Museum") is located; also Grande Marquise ("The great marquee")

9- Fundação Bienal - Pavilhão Cicillo Matarazzo, hosts the São Paulo Art Biennieal and the São Paulo Fashion Week. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer;

10- Museu de Arte Contemporânea MAC - Pavilhão Cicillo Matarazzo, home for the "Contemporary Art Museum" da USP (Universidade de São Paulo), and a space for events and expos, including the São Paulo Art Biennial and the São Paulo Fashion Week;