Central Zone of São Paulo

Central Zone of São Paulo
Zona Central
Location of Central Zone of São Paulo
Location of Central Zone of São Paulo
Country Brazil
State São Paulo
City São Paulo
Subprefectures
Central Zone
Area
 • Total
8 km2 (3.2 sq mi)

The Central Zone (Portuguese: Zona Central de São Paulo) is an administrative zone of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

One of the largest commercial and business districts in South America, the region is administered by the subprefecture of Sé. It is not concurrent, although often confused, with the regions known as Centro Expandido ("Expanded Center"), a broader area used by the city government for urban planning and road space rationing actions and Centro Histórico de São Paulo ("Historic Center of São Paulo"), which, as the name implies, includes only the oldest part of the central region.

Limits

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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.

Districts Population HDI
Santa Cecília 71,179 0.930
Bela Vista 63,190 0.940
Liberdade 61,875 0.936
Consolação 54,522 0.950
República 47,718 0.901
Cambuci 28,717 0.903
Bom Retiro 26,598 0.864
20,115 0.858

Social Characteristics

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Crackland, in downtown Sao Paulo.

According to the 2000 census, the total population of the area is 374,002 inhabitants, including the neighborhoods and districts of 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.[1][2]

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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

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

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Shopping Light by night
São João Avenue
Paulista Avenue
Brigadeiro Faria Lima Avenue
Praça da Sé
Luz Station
Júlio Prestes Station
São Paulo Museum of Art
Mário de Andrade Library
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo
Theatro Municipal
Vale do Anhangabaú
Padre Manuel da Nobrega square
Chá viaduct
Central Zone of São Paulo.

Viaducts

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Avenue and Streets

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Squares

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Metro and commuter railway stations

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Major Shopping Centers

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  • Shopping Light
  • Shopping Frei Caneca
  • Shopping Paulista
  • Shopping Pátio Higienópolis

Major Parks

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Colleges and universities

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Hospitals

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  • 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

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Rivers

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Churches

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Buildings

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Major buildings in the central zone of São Paulo:

  Buildings that have been the first major structures of the region
Rank Name Height
ft (m)
Floors Year
1 Mirante do Vale 558/170 51 1960
2 Edifício Itália 556/168 45 1965
3 Altino Arantes Building 528/161 40 1947
4 Banco do Brasil Building 474/143 24 1955
5 Edifício Copan 460/140 45 1953
6 Barão de Iguape Building 445/133 37 1959
7 Ipiranga 165 440/130 36 1968
8 Martinelli Building 440/130 30 1929
9 Grande São Paulo Building 438/129 40 1971
10 Mercantil Finasa 438/129 35 1973
11 Andraus Building 390/115 32 1962
12 Conde de Prates Building 385/112 33 1955
13 CBI Esplanada 380/110 30 1948

Sightseeing

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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.

Panorama

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Panoramic view of buildings in the central zone of São Paulo.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Outskirts of São Paulo grows more than the center Archived August 31, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on January 24, 2008
  2. ^ São Paulo has drop in population growth Retrieved on January 24, 2008
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23°32′42″S 46°38′18″W / 23.54500°S 46.63833°W / -23.54500; -46.63833