Ibirapuera Park - São Paulo (2)

Ibirapuera Park - São Paulo (2)

Walking nearby Ibirapuera by night

Close to Ibirapuera Park a number of attractions can be seen in the surrounding areas of the Park.

The Obelisk symbolizes the Constitutional Revolution of 1932, when São Paulo rebelled against Brazillian central government, at the time in Rio, when Presidency was occupied by Getulio Vargas. São Paulo demanded for a democratic Constitution, while Vargas remained in power without a voted Constitution. Though São Paulo was defeated, it forced Vargas to convene a constitutional assembly. The Obelisk is a tribute for those who fought and died for São Paulo, and under it there is a mausoleum for those heroes.

Some steps to the west and you´ll find the statue of Pedro Álvares Cabral, in the border of the Park with the Avenue holding the same name. In front of it, a large building in the shape of a cube is the State Parliament, named Palace 9 de Julho - 9 of July.

The most iconic of all, and a symbol of the city, maybe loosing just to MASP building at Avendia Paulista, there´s the Monument to the Bandeiras. The Bandeiras where expeditions that departed from São Paulo to the countryside, in search for gold and precious stones, as well spices. Though blamed for the killing of indigenous people and forcing them to slavery, the Bandeiras are the responsible for the huge size Brazil has today, as the bandeirantes never respected the Tordesillas Treaty between Spain and Portugal, in their rush to explore the land and settle small villages. They have played a very important rule in many cities´foundations and on settling trade routes. 

The monument is Victor Brecheret´s masterpiece, and shows the bandeirantes and the indigenous pushing large canoons, facing west and the lands to be discovered. Curiously, as the rivers in São Paulo and in South Brazil runs in the west direction, to the opposite side of the Atlantic, they were used as natural routes to the countryside. This is a characteristic of the Basin of Paraná River, the same basin of the Iguazu Falls, integrating the Rio de La Plata basin.