The MASP (Art Museum of São Paulo) is the dream of its creator, Assis Chateaubriand*, of bringing together pieces of artworks and paintings to build a museum. When it was inaugurated in 1947, was far from becoming what it's today: the most important collection in the southern hemisphere and is considered a treasure of humanity.
Carrying the mission to get artworks, Assis Chateaubriand allowed his huge group of media to help the collection of funds for the acquisition of works of art. Three other people were also very important to this project: Edmundo Monteiro (CEO of the media group), the couple Pietro Maria Bardi (journalist and critic of art in Italy) and his wife, the architect Lina Bo.
The proposed construction of the headquarters of MASP aimed at preserving the vision of the Serra da Cantareira and the city center. It explains the proposed architecture of the building. It is the only one of the world for its peculiarity: its structure is suspended on four pillars separated by a gap of 74 meters. What would be the vision of the mountain, which unfortunately was later covered by buildings.
It's inauguration was held in November of 1968 with the presence of Queen Elizabeth II of England. The MASP holds Italian works by Raphael, Andrea Mantegna, Bellini and Botticceli; of Flemish painters like Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Memling and Cranach. Among the Spaniards are Velazquez and Goya.
Most of the European art is French. We appreciate the four portraits of the daughters of Luiz XV, painted by Nattier, or allegories of the four seasons of Delacroix. The impressionist movement, can be found by several works of Renoir, Manet, Monet, Cézanne and Degas. The post-Impressionists, are represented by the paintings of Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec.
One of the collection's highlight, is the space devoted to a complete collection of sculptures by Edgar Degas. A collection of 73 pieces of bronze, can only be seen fully in Masp and in a few museums such as the Metropolitan in New York, or the D `Orsay Museum in Paris.
The MASP also offers music, film and lectures. Two auditoriums designed by Lina Bo bring a space for these multiple activities.
(*) Important Brazilian businessman, owner of business communication. He was founder and director of the then main chain press of Brazil, the Daily Users: 34 newspapers, 36 radio stations, 18 television stations, one news agency, one weekly magazine (The Cruise), one monthly magazine (for cigarettes) as well the many magazines for children.
Service
Where: Av. Paulista, 1578 - Bela Vista - São Paulo - SP
When: Thursday, from 11am till 8pm. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, from 11am till 6pm.
(Tickets stop to selling an hour before closing).
Phone: (11) 3251 5644
How much: R$ 15 and R$ 7 (students). Free for under 10 and above 60. Also free every Tuesday.
Website: www.masp.art.br
Once winter has already arrived, the gastronomic temptations come too. For those who are living or traveling in São Paulo, the best option is the big variety range of soups and fondues found on the best restaurants in town.
Carrying the mission to get artworks, Assis Chateaubriand allowed his huge group of media to help the collection of funds for the acquisition of works of art. Three other people were also very important to this project: Edmundo Monteiro (CEO of the media group), the couple Pietro Maria Bardi (journalist and critic of art in Italy) and his wife, the architect Lina Bo. 
Thanks God, fast food is not synonymous of junk food any more. Samba Fresh Food is an example of a restaurant that offers health and well seasoned fast food. Wraps, salads, soups and sandwiches are some of the best options found in zero-frying menu. If we are what we eat, better to be practical, balanced and tasty than heavy, greasy and clear! [rebeca hidalgo by B-Coolt]
Over 20 years, the Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea L. Pecci di Prato are assembling a vast collection of books on contemporary international artists, from the exponents of the Visual Poetry or abstract, set up work of masters. This collection of 80 books left out in the Italian Art shows Codex. "The artists extend the idea of a book, surpassing the association, simple, text and image to ratify an inseparable fusion of form and content: the subject of the written tradition becomes work of art," explains the curator Marco Bazzini. [Camila Pompeu by B.Coolt]
In 1929, the New York Stock Exchange broke and turned the world upside down, coincidentally it was the same year that came up "São Paulo, a Metropolis of Symphonia", a documentary about Sao Paulo showing its enormous growth. Eighty years later, the film will be shown again, but now with soundtrack performed live by Livio Tratenberg and Wilson Sukorski, which incorporated sounds of the city using new tools, computers, objects of Sound and voices recited the poem of Oswald Andrade. "I suddenly impoverish. You enriched because of me", as Oswald said. [kaka gouvea by B-Coolt]
Photo: Bia Parreiras
His curious career started in New York, 25 years ago when a critic from the The New York Times discovered the artist. Coincidently or not, Masp Museum had last month, the largest quantity of visitors in 10 years. This exhibition runs till July 12th.
One of the best ways to spend the weekend in Sao Paulo is to visit one of its markets, typical in any neighborhood. Saturday is the time of Benedito Calixto Market. It takes place in the square with the same name in Pinheiros, between Cardeal Arcoverde Street and Teodoro Sampaio Street (famous for musical instruments shops). The Market has different interesting spots. At the square, it’s possible to meet ordinary people selling old-fashion stuff, from sunglasses to colored telephones, passing through books, pictures and everything else. Walking around the market it is possible to find also old artisans, especially making leather shoes and bags. One I would suggest is an old funny man (photo) that makes leather shoes, both for man and woman. Very few models but the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. You shouldn't miss it! His smile is contagious. In the middle of the square is the food court. My suggestion is the Arabic food. A tiny woman prepares the best cabbage and rice roll ever. But the choice is bigger: Portuguese and Bahian (one of the Brazilian states territory) food, traditional pastel, Argentinean ‘empanadas’ and much more. It is a meeting point starting from 2:30pm when a show of “chorinho” makes everyone happier. Finally, at one side of the square, there is an area dedicated to the new fashion stylists, where girls just go crazy. There are plenty of very nice clothes and accessories for quite reasonable prices. Everywhere around the square it is full of bars and pubs to have a drink and the atmosphere is very young and cool. Not so famous within tourist, it really worth to have a look!
There is a good value for money option to have dinner in Sao Paulo. Called "Siga la vaca", this restaurant got inspiration in a good Argentinean restaurant chain with the same name. Siga la vaca offers 5 different rooms, being 3 karaoke rooms, balcony and living room. At the menu, it's possible to find cold and hot snacks, among a big range of options. Young and beautiful people fill up the place to have the huge beer tower at the balcony. Nice place!
Rua Augusta is a really nice place to be. To reinforce it, here is nice place to have some drinks: Z Carniceria. It’s an old butcher/slaughterhouse from 50’s. As an intention to save the charm of this legendary street, the same owners of the Vegas Nightclub decided to transform it in a thematic pub. In paradox, most of the dishes are vegetarian (despite that some of them, still bringing the pleasures of the flesh). Some of the exclusive drinks are also into this butcher purpose and come with their names associated with the theme, such as: Blood Marry, Mad Butcher, Bloody Summer, Baby Beef (all these names are in English). The music comes from on-line radios and the sound style is Rockabilly, Blues and Jazz from New Orleans. Their website is pretty nice and this is undoubted a nice place for overseas. Try it on! 
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