Plaza de la República (Praça da República)

Perched within the otherwise tree-shaded plaza is the former Caetano de Campos School, now the site of the São Paulo State Department of Education, a handsome structure of yellow brick that—at over 125 years old—contrasts greatly with the mid-20th century glass and steel towers fronting the park. Just across Avenida Ipiranga from the plaza is one of the city’s oldest Modernist residential buildings, the Edifício Esther, inaugurated in 1938, and overlooking the park from the southwest corner is the nearly 541-foot-tall (165-meter) Edifício Itália, São Paulo’s second tallest building. Because of its central location, you’ll likely pass through this square during your visit, plus guided sightseeing tours of the city typically include it on their itineraries.