Figueira das Lágrimas, Historic tree in São Paulo, Brazil

The Figueira das Lágrimas is a large Ficus organensis fig tree on Estrada das Lágrimas, between numbers 515 and 537, in the Sacomã district. A second fig, a Ficus benjamina that sprouted in 1977, grows beside it. The 100 m² plot was donated by the Sacoman Frères ceramics firm and is enclosed by a wall with railings and a bronze plaque.

This fig tree received its name during the Paraguay War in 1864, when mothers gathered beneath it to say goodbye to their sons heading to battle. The tree became a symbol of this pivotal moment in the city's past.

The name "Figueira das Lágrimas" comes from the farewells made under its branches, not from the tree species. In the 19th century, law students from the Faculdade de Direito do Largo São Francisco gathered here at the end of their course to say goodbye to colleagues returning to their hometowns. During the Paraguayan War, from 1864, mothers also bid farewell to their sons here.

The site is easy to reach on foot and offers shaded seating areas beneath the tree's canopy. Visitors can explore the area during daylight hours and read the information plaques to learn more about its story.

In 1909, local residents organized protests to protect the tree when urban development plans threatened its branches, leading to its preservation. This grassroots effort shows how much the community valued this landmark.