Farol Santander, Sao Paulo

This iconic building has been called the Empire State Building of São Paulo. Previous names include Edificio Altino Arantes and the Banespa Tower. Regardless of its name, it's one of the most notable landmarks in São Paulo and dominates the skyline.

Farol Santander opened in 1947 and was originally the headquarters of the State Bank of São Paulo. At the time of completion, it was the tallest building in the city and the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world.

Travel to the 33rd floor to reach the observation deck and take in endless views. Visitors will find a skate park on the 21st floor. There's a wonderful exhibition featuring a panorama of São Paulo's skyline created by Vik Muniz from upcycled items. Visitors will also find a three-minute historical film.

The Banespa Museum is located inside Farol Santander. Here, visitors will enjoy over 900 objects, photographs, and carpets. There are several cafés and restaurants in the building. Try lunch in the rooftop restaurant.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Governo do Estado de São Paulo.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Sao Paulo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Farol Santander
Sight Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil (See walking tours in Sao Paulo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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