Martinelli Building (Edifício Martinelli)
Rua São Bento 405, Centro Histórico, São Paulo, Southeast Brazil, 01011-100
São Paulo’s first skyscraper—and the first building of its stature in South America—the Martinelli Building (Edifício Martinelli) stands 345 feet (105 meters) tall. While the building was originally designed to have 12 floors, the construction process, which stretched from 1924 to 1928, saw more than a dozen more floors added, plus a mansion on top.
The basics
Today, São Paulo is a veritable jungle of skyscrapers, but when the Martinelli Building was first developed, it was met with shock and controversy. Prior to its construction, buildings that were more than 10 stories high were rare. But developer Giuseppe Martinelli—an Italian immigrant who had relocated to Brazil in 1889—stubbornly took the building to 25 stories, with his own family mansion constructed on top of its viewing deck. After falling into disrepair, the building underwent an extensive renovation process in 1975. Today, it is considered a gem of beaux-arts architecture, and a symbol of the city.
The Martinelli Building is located conveniently in São Paulo’s downtown, or Centro. It’s easy to stop to admire it independently, or to spot it on a range of guided and audio walking tours.
Things to know before you go
Unfortunately, the Martinelli Building has not been open to the public in recent years; it’s now home to government offices.
It’s possible to request an educational tour of the building in advance, if you are visiting as part of a school, university, social project, or other organization.
There are several shops on the ground floor of the building, which are accessible to visitors.
How to get there
The Martinelli Building is located at Avenida São João, 35, in the center of the city. The nearest São Paulo Metrô stations are São Bento (line 1) and Estação Anhangabaú (line 3). You can also reach it by bus, taxi, or rideshare service.
When to get there
The Martinelli Building no longer offers tours, apart from educational group visits, which need to be requested in advance (and are held Monday–Friday, from morning until early evening). To admire the exterior, time your visit for a good-weather day so you can linger outside and appreciate its architectural details.
Nearby São Paulo landmarks
There are a wealth of historical and architectural highlights in São Paulo’s center, some of which are just moments from the Martinelli Building. Nearby highlights include the baroque Municipal Theatre of São Paulo, the Mercado Municipal de São Paulo, and the Edifício Itália (the city’s second-tallest skyscraper).
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