Sao Paulo has dozens of theatres that run
two shows at the same time as well as a children's play.
Resulting in more than 70 performances to choose from at
any one time.
There is heightened security around venues on performance
days. Even so, while parking on the street it is not at
all uncommon to have a homeless person offer to watch your
car while you're at the theatre expecting a small tip when
you leave.
Looking in the daily paper or magazines will give you
information about performances and there is a theatre
guide called Off distributed at theatres, five-star
hotels, and finer restaurants.
Buy tickets at the box office or call Fun by Phone at
3097-8687 for tickets. There are so many fine theatres it
seems pointless to start listing them but it goes without
saying that if you have the time and happen to like the
current performance at the Municipal Theatre don't dare
miss the opportunity to see it done in one of the true
masterpieces of architecture the city has to offer!
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Sao Paulo offers a wide selection of international films
in addition to the ever-present Hollywood blockbusters
seen all over the world. If you like artsy films try
Espaco Unibanco on Rua Augusta just down the hill from
Paulista Avenue. Belas Artes on Rua Consolacao at the west
end of Paulista Avenue also offers some international
films mixed with more mainstream films as well.
There are numerous other cinemas on Paulista Avenue and
listings are easily found in the daily papers. If you're
in the Higienopolis neighbourhood and doing the TOUR ON
FOOT, stop in at the new mall Shopping Patio Higienopolis
with several modern theatres to offer. There are a few
very large cinemas in the downtown area, offering
mainstream Hollywood and Brazilian films. They're a little
musty and without air conditioning making them half the
price of the theatres on Paulista Avenue but what really
makes them neat is that they're huge and you can see that
decades ago they were really spectacular, chic places to
go to the movies.
There are many film festivals around the year including
the 30 year-old International film festival, which offers
a selection of films made by independent and alternative
film makers played at various participating cinemas around
the city.
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Sao Paulo hosts many private collections of art. Almost
all the Brazilian art and antiques market are here. MASP
holds the most treasured pieces in Latin America including
paintings by Rembrandt, Velazquez, Goya, Degas, Renoir,
and Van Gogh to name a few.
Often these pieces are loaned to exhibitions going on tour
around the world and in exchange other international
collections come to MASP. The Bienal at Ibirapuera Park is
unequalled in its international art exhibitions. Also in
Ibirapuera Park you'll find MAM the city's collection of
modern and contemporary Brazilian art.
The country's finest collection of modern art is at MAC on
the University of Sao Paulo campus. Other International
exhibitions can be seen at the Museum of Brazilian Art at
FAAP, which often receives touring collections.
The Pinacoteca near the Luz Park hosts the city's largest
collection of 19th century Brazilian and international
art. If you've already been to all of these don't despair
the list goes on.
You're in the right city for museum hopping! Dress at art
galleries is very informal with the exception of
vernissages at MASP or FAAP where invitations are
non-transferable and the dress code is almost de rigueur. |
