São Paulo - Morumbi

The Luisa and Oscar Americano Foundation occupies the former home of the architect Oscar Americano and his wife, with a beautiful garden. It contains furnishings, silver and porcelain of the imperial period and eight oil paintings by Frans Post, the Dutch painter famed for his views of Brazil. At weekends there are very popular "tea hours" and concerts in the villa.

Lake Guarapiranga

Guarapiranga Park

On the way to the southern districts Avenida Gronchi passes Lake Guarapiranga (an artificial lake formed by a dam), with numerous restaurants and water sports facilities, and Guarapiranga Park (children's playgrounds, keep-fit trails and sports facilities).

On Rua Oscar Americano is Morumbi Park (or Parque Alfredo Volpi), with areas of woodland, a lake, a children's playground and a keep-fit trail. To the left is Praça Monsenhor Galvão de Sousa.

Morumbi Stadium

From Praça Vinicius de Moraes Avenida Giovanni Gronchi leads to Morumbi Football Stadium, the largest in the city, and continues to the southern districts of São Paulo on the left bank of the Rio Pinheiros and Rio Grande.

Palácio dos Bandeirantes

Facing the Americano Foundation is the Palácio dos Bandeirantes, the seat of the Governor of São Paulo. It contains an interesting collection of (mainly Brazilian) works of art and furniture of the colonial period (open only at weekends).

Avenida Morumbi runs between the racecourse and Morumbi Park. At the south end of Praça Vicinius de Moraes, a park with numerous trees and little lakes, it runs into Avenida Giovanni Gronchi. Beyond this are the Luisa and Oscar Americano Foundation and the Palácio dos Bandeirantes.