Baruel Mansion, Norman mansion in Alto de Santana, São Paulo, Brazil
Baruel Mansion is a Norman-style mansion in Alto de Santana, São Paulo, built around 1879 as the seat of the Chácara Baruel estate. The building is also known as the "Castelinho" and was listed as a historic property by Conpresp in March 2018. It now houses a physiotherapy clinic.
Francisco Antônio Baruel, a militia officer from one of Santana's first families, bought the land in 1852; the estate covered 24,250 m², an alqueire. The Norman-style mansion was built around 1879 as the estate's headquarters. After Baruel's death the property was divided and sold in lots.
The Baruel family shaped the area through their involvement in local projects like the Chapel of Santa Cruz, built in 1895. The house reflects the social standing this family held in the region.
The mansion stands in Alto de Santana, in São Paulo's northern zone, and now houses a physiotherapy clinic, so the interior is not open to visitors. The Norman-style exterior can be seen from the street. The Narbal Fontes Library, in the former house of Dona Maria, and the Chapel of Santa Cruz on Voluntários da Pátria street are nearby.
The mansion was cited in Zélia Gattai's memoir "Anarquistas, Graças a Deus", which recalls the Santana of her childhood. The Baruel family also helped build the Chapel of Santa Cruz in Alto de Santana. The building was listed by Conpresp in March 2018.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,790 contributors worldwide.