Praça da Sé

Welcome to Praça da Sé (Prah-sah dah Seh), the absolute 'epicentro' (eh-pee-sen-troo) of São Paulo. As we stand here, you are at the geometric heart of a city of 12 million people. …

We begin at the base of the monumental steps of the Catedral Metropolitana de São Paulo. These wide, stone stairs serve as a 'teatro urbano' (teh-ah-troo oor-bah-noo)—a stage where the life of the city plays out in all its…

As we step inside the cathedral, the roar of the city vanishes, replaced by a cool, echoing 'silêncio' (see-len-see-oo). You are standing in one of the largest Neo-Gothic structures in the world. …

Beneath the main altar lies one of the city's hidden treasures: the Cathedral Crypt. This subterranean chapel is almost a 'segunda catedral' (seh-goon-dah kah-teh-drahl) in itself. …

Returning to the plaza, look for a small, hexagonal marble monument located among the palms. This is 'Marco Zero' (Mahr-koh Zeh-roo), the geographic 'Kilometer Zero' of the city of São Paulo. …

Near the center of the square stands the bronze statue of the Apostle Paul (São Paulo), the patron saint and namesake of the city. Sculpted in a dynamic pose, he is often depicted with a sword and a book, symbols of his…

Our final observation in Praça da Sé is not a monument of stone, but the 'fluxo humano' (floo-ksoo oo-mah-noo)—the human flow. Standing here, one is overwhelmed by the sheer 'escala' (es-kah-lah) of life. …

As we conclude our tour of Praça da Sé, take a final look at the towering spires of the cathedral and the sprawling energy of the plaza. We have walked through the 'centro geográfico' and spiritual soul of this massive metropolis. …