Casa das Rosas ("House of the Roses"), one of the last mansions from the early 20th century still standing on skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista, is now a poetry and arts center.
Named for Haroldo de Campos (1929-2003), one of Brazil's greatest poets and translators, the center hosts exhibits, courses, plays, performances, and other cultural and artistic events, several of which are free.
The house is a great attraction in itself. It was designed and built between 1928 and 1935 by the office of São Paulo architect Francisco de Paula Ramos de Azevedo (1851-1929), responsible for dozens of projects which helped define São Paulo as a metropolis. Casa das Rosas was designed for his daughter Lúcia Ramos de Azevedo and her husband, engineer Ernesto Dias de Castro.
The construction, a blend of styles with Art Déco, Renaissance, neoclassical and English elements (such as Chippendale and Hepplewhite), has 30 rooms and a garden where roses still grow. It was listed by Condephaat, the São Paulo State historic, archaeological, artistic and tourism council, in 1985.
Next page: Hours and Visitor's Guide
