Vila Itororó

Vila Itororó is a protected residential complex in Bela Vista, featuring a main palace and 37 houses with columns salvaged from the demolished Teatro São José and round windows decorated with stained glass featuring national symbols. The buildings are arranged around communal leisure spaces on a cohesive hillside property.

Portuguese entrepreneur Francisco de Castro initiated construction between 1922 and 1929, designing rental houses and leisure spaces around his personal residence. This development emerged during São Paulo's rapid expansion when wealthy residents sought new residential enclaves in the hills.

The restored buildings now function as a cultural center, hosting performances, workshops, and artistic activities for people across São Paulo. Visitors can experience contemporary art and theater productions in these historic spaces.

The complex sits on Rua Maestro Cardim, where four buildings have been restored and opened for cultural programming and public access. Plan time to explore the various interior spaces, as each building displays different architectural details and design elements.

The property once housed São Paulo's first private swimming pool, fed by water from Itororó Creek, which was later channeled underground. This historic waterway not only served the villa's leisure functions but also shaped the landscape as the city expanded around it.