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Avenida São João

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Avenida São João
Avenida São João
Length1.930 m (6.33 ft)
LocationSão Paulo, Brazil
QuarterSé (district of São Paulo), República, Santa Cecília
FromSão Bento Street
ToMarechal Deodoro Square

Avenida São João (Portuguese for São João Avenue) is an important arterial road in the center zone of São Paulo.[1] It is connected to the Minhocão and in front of it is the Altino Arantes Building (Banespa), an important urban focal point.[2][3] In its main area, the avenue is completely pedestrianized, functioning as a promenade, with restricted access for cars.[4]

History[edit]

The history of Avenida São João dates back to 1651. In that year, Henrique da Cunha Gago and Cristóvão da Cunha, residents of São Paulo, requested from the Municipal Chamber the donation of lands in the area delimited by the Anhangabaú river and Yacuba streams through a letter stating: "The undersigned request Your Honors to grant each of them thirty brazos of land in the outskirts of this village, between two streams called Anhangobay and Yacuba. The measurement will start from the path that goes to Piratininga, in front of João Pires' land and next to some houses of Maria Morena, up to another thirty brazos of land towards the Yacuba stream".[5] Thus, a dirt trail was born that connected these properties to the historic hill of São Paulo.[6][7]

Over the course of its history, the rustic trail gradually acquired the name "Ladeira do Acú," derived from Yacuba, the adjacent creek. Its descent commenced from the former Largo do Rosário, presently known as Antonio Prado Square, and terminated close to Largo do Paiçandu. Beyond this point, it evolved into the "Estrada de Jundia," a vital route frequented by cattle drivers journeying into the State's hinterland.[5]

Throughout the 18th century, it remained known as Ladeira do Acú. The current designation is a tribute to John the Baptist, considered the "protector of waters" in the Catholic tradition. Delving into the origins of this tribute, we find that the watercourses that crossed the old "Ladeira" were considered dangerous by the early inhabitants of São Paulo: Yacuba or Acú means "Poisoned Water" in Tupi, and this creek ran alongside the present-day Post Office (Correios) building, flowing into the Anhangabaú, which also means "Haunted Waters" or "Waters of the Devil" in Tupi.[5]

This tribute initially gained informal recognition and was officially recorded starting November 28, 1865, when councilman Malaquias Rogério de Salles Guerra suggested the name "Ladeira de São João." Later, the thoroughfare was transformed into a street and, from 1916 onwards, into Avenida São João.[8] Between 1910 and 1937, successive renovations, widenings, and extensions took place.[5]

Some of the widenings occurred during the administrations of Raimundo Duprat (1911-1913) from Libero Badaró Street to Largo de Paiçandu, Washington Luís (1914-1919) from Largo do Paissandu to Júlio de Mesquita Square, and Firmiano Pinto (1920-1925) from Libero Badaró Street to Pyrenees Square (now Marechal Deodoro Square).[7]

In the early 1970s, a section of Avenida São João was elevated to create the Minhocão. Initiated by then-mayor Paulo Maluf, the project aimed to alleviate traffic congestion in the city center and was inaugurated on the 417th anniversary of São Paulo.[9] The heavy and continuous flow of cars, along with increased noise, dirt, and pollution, significantly impacted the areas where the viaduct was constructed, leading to a decline in real estate values in the region.[10]

In the year 2024, during Mayor Ricardo Nunes' administration, a test event was held on the avenue to include it in the 'Open Streets' program, where major roads in the city of São Paulo are closed to cars, allowing pedestrians to freely walk through the city's streets.[11][12] After the test event, the city government announced that new dates and the continuation of the program on the avenue will be evaluated, together with merchants and residents through public hearings.[13][14]

File:Av. Sao Joao (22470801584).jpg
Avenida Sao João, one of the most famous in the city, viewed from the Vale do Anhangabaú in São Paulo.

Relevant crossings[edit]

Relevant buildings[edit]

Tributes[edit]

File:"Que só quando cruza a Ipiranga e a avenida São João..." (3404315323).jpg
Intersection of Avenida São João with Avenida Ipiranga, immortalized in the song "Sampa" by Caetano Veloso.

In December 2022, renovations were carried out at the intersection of Avenida Ipiranga and São João, with the placement of statues in honor of the representatives of São Paulo samba, Adoniran Barbosa and Paulo Vanzolini.[17][18]

Ronda, an established song in Brazilian music, is of great cultural importance, mainly because it portrays Avenida São João. Composed by Paulo Vanzolini, the song vividly portrays the essence of São Paulo's urban landscape in the mid-20th century, capturing the bustling atmosphere and pulse of daily life along Avenida São João. Through its nostalgic lyrics and melodic charm, Ronda has become an emblem of Brazilian musical heritage, offering a poetic tribute to the city's vibrant history and the iconic street that serves as its backdrop.[19][20]

Avenida São João features prominently in Caetano Veloso's iconic song Sampa, a tribute by the Bahian singer to the city of São Paulo.[21] Released in 1978, the song reflects Veloso's experience and impressions of the city, capturing its essence through vivid lyrical imagery.[22][23]

See also[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avenida São João.

Bibliography[edit]

  • GAMA, Lúcia Helena. Eram a consolação: sociabilidade e cultura em São Paulo nos anos 1960 e 1970; São Paulo: Edições SESC, 2023.
  • TOLEDO, Benedito Lima de; São Paulo: três cidades em um século; São Paulo: Cosac e Naify, 2004.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lima, Verônica (2020-11-12). "Avenida São João: uma joia no centro de São Paulo". Imóveis - Estadão. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  2. ^ "IBGE | Biblioteca | Detalhes | [Avenida São João : Edifício Altino Arantes] : São Paulo, SP". Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Archived from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  3. ^ "Cartão-postal de São Paulo: Por dentro da histórica Avenida São João". Aventuras na História (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-05-14. Archived from the original on 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  4. ^ Yamamoto, Patrícia (2018-11-29). Circuito em transformação: O Estado de São Paulo e a cultura fotográfica paulistana nos anos 1970 (Master's degree thesis). São Paulo University. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  5. ^ a b c d Oliveira, Abrahão de (2014-04-08). "A Histórida de Uma Das Mais Famosas Avenidas de São Paulo: A São João". SP In Foco (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2017-05-27. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  6. ^ "Avenida São João | São Paulo Bairros" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  7. ^ a b Peixoto, Renan (2017-08-18). "Da trilha a avenida: A história da Avenida São João e caminhos para o seu futuro". Mackenzie Presbyterian University (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  8. ^ "Avenida São João". São Paulo City Hall. Archived from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  9. ^ Angiolillo, Francesca (2021-01-24). "De promessa a cicatriz no centro, Minhocão completa 50 anos". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  10. ^ Galvão, Gustavo; Dias, Gianvitor; Campos, Indianara (2021-11-28). "Minhocão completa 50 anos com arte, lazer e incertezas sobre futuro". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2022-09-25. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  11. ^ "Sem carros, Avenida São João é ocupada por famílias caminhando com crianças e pets, skatistas e bikes". Prefeitura de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-01-21. Archived from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  12. ^ "Avenida São João fica aberta neste domingo para pedestres". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-01-21. Archived from the original on 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  13. ^ "Relatório de Análise do Evento Teste: "Ruas Abertas São João"" (PDF). Prefeitura de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  14. ^ Kruse, Tulio (2024-01-21). "Teste da São João aberta para pedestres tem adesão parcial do comércio em dia com chuva em SP". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  15. ^ Siqueira, Lucas (2023-06-16). "Galeria Olido, no Centro de SP, abre sala com recursos multimídia neste fim de semana". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  16. ^ McPhee, Rosana (2012-01-29). "Where to go in São Paulo - a small guide". Hot and Chilli. Archived from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  17. ^ "Ipiranga e Av. São João: esquina mais famosa de SP ganha reforma e estátuas". UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-12-12. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  18. ^ "Ipiranga com São João ganha reforma de quase R$ 5 milhões; veja fotos". Veja (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-12-06. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  19. ^ "Ronda". Itaú Cultural. Archived from the original on 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  20. ^ Malta, Pedro (2024-07-07). "Os 70 anos de 'Ronda', o samba-canção que, a contragosto do próprio compositor, virou hino da noite paulistana". Discografia Brasileira (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  21. ^ Queiroz, Poliana; Bueno, Leonardo (2013-10-01). "Do difícil começo à boa garoa: análise da música Sampa do cantor Caetano Veloso". Revista Café Com Sociologia. 2 (3): 16–22. Archived from the original on 2020-07-12.
  22. ^ "Sampa: o hino de amor de Caetano Veloso por São Paulo". São Paulo Secreto (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-01-25. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  23. ^ Zoiro, Giulio (2023-04-26). "Cruzamento Av. Ipiranga x Av. São João: uma enorme tristeza". TV Cultura (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
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