São Paulo: art capital

São Paulo also harmoniously merges what is modern and historic. One of the city’s postcards, that must enter in your itinerary is the Sé Cathedral, one of the five largest Gothic temples in the world. Built in 1954, the Cathedral has many works of religious art, beautiful mosaics and stained glass windows, in addition to the great organ, with five keyboards and 12 thousand tubes, considered the largest in South America. The Church has a capacity of at least 8000 people, and has 92 bells of varying sizes.

History is also told in the form of art at Masp, Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand. Set aside an afternoon to wander through iconic paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, Rembrandt, Monet, Manet, Picasso, Modigliani and many others. Also enjoy the nucleus dedicated to Brazilian art, that the most important Art Museum of Latin America brings in its collection. Masp doesn't impress only on the inside. The beautiful building of glass and concrete has a unique design, and its gap space is a world reference.

In addition to culture, São Paulo also lives with intensity a national passions: soccer. This love is clearly present in the Soccer Museum, one of the must see attractions in the city. It doesn’t matter if you are not a soccer lover. It's practically impossible not to get infected with the atmosphere of the Museum, that was built from the stands of the Estádio do Pacaembu. Play in one of the Museum’s interactive attractions, such as trying out a penalty and measuring the speed of your kick or playing with a virtual ball. Be sure to learn, through high-definition screens, about the story of the World Cups and the participation of the Brazilian team in each one of them. There's no way to get out of there without having the urge to shout "goal".

If you like the fusion art & architecture, the Latin America Memorial is the ideal place for you. The Memorial is an architectural complex designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Brazilian architect, that offers a beautiful collection of sculptures, and important paintings, such as the Panel Tiradentes, by Candido Portinari, that consists of three overlapping screens.

If you still have time, forget the clock and continue your cultural tour to the Pinacoteca, one of the most important art museums of Brasil. Its collection has about 500 pieces and 9 thousand works about the history of brazilian art from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Take the opportunity to explore some charming places near the Museum and meet different flavors. In the many cafes scattered throughout the streets, try one of the snacks with oriental inspiration, such as the fried rice dumpling filled with azuki beans. Or stop at any bakery and ask for the traditional and delicious coffee bread stuffed with cream cheese. To drink, nothing better than a warm and comforting ginger tea to recharge your energies.