A group of greater municipalities which is known as the Greater ABC Region, has Santo Andre, a beautiful Brazilian Municipality located in the metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo.
Occupying an area of 175.
7 square kilometers the population density of 3848.
01, this settlement was formed in 1930’s.
Originally, it was named Sao Bernado because the municipality headquarters were at Sao Bernado do Campo.
This is now a city nearby and not of prime importance.
In 1938, the name of this city was changed to Santo Andre.
Mainly the economy here thrives on industries like chemical engineering, textiles oil and metal products.
The major employment is also generated by Metallurgy and printed matter.
Though it is totally an industrial city, most of its total area is protected by strict and non-bendable environmental laws.
In 1867, a railway names the
Sao Paulo Railway Co made it easier to be reached
and so started the industrial revolution.
Now very prestigiously it is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santo Andre.
In 2002, this city also grabbed national headlines, when the serving mayor Celso Daniel was assassinated and the murder still remains unsolved till today.
Mainly segregated by four districts of Distrito Sede, Paranapiacaba, Distrito de Utinga and Distrito de Capuava, this place is traveler’s fortune.
With close knit geographies of the area, the places are interconnected well and local movement within the city is not tough.
You can avail from a huge variety of public transport services like the bus and the trains to reach where ever you want without much difficulty.
Majorly reputed for loyalties towards football, the Esporta’s Clube Santo Andre is the soccer team of the city and has a huge fan following.
There is also a city stadium that you might like to visit it for the grace and grandeur of it.
The layout of this stadium is much extended.
While volleyball and basketball are also played here, the most followed game still remains football.
There have been some boxing champions from the area as well.
Best time to visit Santo Andre?
While rain can happen at almost any time of the year, the hottest months should be avoided due to the extreme heat.
Do not visit the place between November to February to avoid the hottest peak months of the season.
The rest of the year is just perfect for enjoying outdoor activities.
The best period to visit this city is between March till October every year.
The entire year remains hot and wet while the temperatures are a little cooler in the winters.
Plan your trip to enjoy this place for an awesome vacation.
Best things to do in Santo Andre Brazil
These are my favorite things to do and beautiful places to visit on your next holiday to Santo Andre.
Central Park (Parque Central)
You cannot label this as just another park in the city, considered to be the best in town; the central park is well located near the shopping ABC of Periera Barreto.
With a huge area, with a bike path trails for running and walking.
A beautiful lake lines the central part of the park, where you may find many ducks, sea turtles and even some people who would like to spend their time lazing around and fishing.
A different color of green lines the grass and the pathways and it has a room for everyone.
The Central Park has basketball Court, futsal and several locations for stretching and exercises where you would find people from all communities collecting together at one place for being in better health.
It is great for picnics and you may also want to just sit and relax sitting in the shades.
If all you want to do in a day is to read a good book, then this is where you should be!
You can also see many people having fun enjoying kites, walking, running and cycling off to glory.
A free area with a rage space, this park caters to every kind of activity.
While the senior citizens like engaging in mild activities, the youngsters enjoy themselves on power games and children just keep running from one end of the park to another making it equally interesting for everyone.
If you have been travelling with a pet and you need to talk your pet, get him here.
They will surely love it and also have a safe space to move around.
You may also like to indulge in some theatre and plays and you will not regret you r day spent here.
My favorite stuff to do in Santo Andre
Paranapiacaba Village
A historical village was built by the English company which was working on the Sao Paulo Railway.
It was basically supposed to be a settlement of the workers of the train station and the platforms as have been built around the train station at Alto da Serra, to accommodate the laborers and the workers.
But it grew and spread to an area around it becoming a stagnant settlement.
Much of the construction and the architecture have been preserved in a very good condition and though the train station has been rebuilt twice, the original clock which was then designed by Johnny Walker is also at display.
Paranapiacaba maintains its original function of being a railway village but now the local transport has been stopped and only the cargo trains are allowed to pass through it.
There is a tourist train which has been operated by the CPTM and this is the only passenger train that passes through the area.
The rail yards look eerie and
have the resemblance of the train graveyards
with many rustling old wrecks that you could wish to explore closely.
The rusted iron along with heavy duty machinery is still very well in use and is easily one of the best museums in the world where you can find old trams and train parts freely available for display.
Another very interesting sight here is the rain forest which covers the entire place.
While you may not be a forest lover, but he natural merging of the landscapes does not even inform you about the beginning of the forest.
This village is still inhabited and a huge tourist spot with many people aware of the tourism industry and so the people are warm and welcoming even into their homes, for an occasional treat of the local delicacies of you get to know someone while you are exploring the pace.
The village is sustained due to the rainforest and so they guide you through the innermost portions of it without letting you getting lost.
Popular Santo Andre tourist attractions
Santo Andre Municipal Theater
Theatre has been a very ancient part of the Brazilian culture with a lot of people actively involved in to it.
While there are many theatre festivals and programs of international rankings, the local theatre is also very well advanced.
If you wish to enjoy bit dramatics then you should definitely visit the Santo Andre Municipal Theatre here and sit for a skit or two.
They cover all genres of trauma, drama, sacrifice, entertainment and humor.
The English translations available here would help you understand everything will ease and you would be able to understand the plays fully without any difficulty of the language barrier.
This is one of the oldest theatres in the area and was established with a lot of pomp and show.
You can visit this place at anytime of the year and see some or the other festival going on.
A lot of theatrics come into play when the skits are being performed and watching theatre is one of the most common pass times of the locals.
A visit to this place is a must if you want to dabble in some literary event while you enjoy the stage.
What else to do in Santo Andre?
Hiking
One of the best activities that you can enjoy while you are outdoors is hike at this location.
Extensive hiking programmers’ and courses are available for those who wish to learn the sport properly.
Amateurs ‘are most welcomed with an expert tour guide to help you hike to the best of the capabilities.
If your stay is extended it is actually a good idea to enroll is some classes and learn the sport completely.
The best programmers that they offer which can be experienced by the experts and the amateurs alike is the 15kms hike right down to the coast.
You can traverse this stretch through the Vale de Quilombo.
The hiring of guides is preferable and to avoid getting lost in the rain forest which is quite dense, a good expert hiker should accompany you.
For this you need to get in touch with the Paranapiacaba Environmental Monitors association and they would provide you all the services that are needed.
This can be done by visiting them at their office personally of by asking around in the village for the kind of help that can be offered.
Though English is not widely spoken, the locals do have the tendency to throw in some words of English either in their native tongue or using sign language to communicate with you which makes sure that you understand them completely.
A day of fun while you are hiking is immensely pleasurable and you would love to engage with the activity.
Because Hiking is done on a very wide scale, the hiking equipment can be easily available on rentals and you would also be assured to get good quality stuff which may not be available otherwise.
Right from your apparel to the right kind of shoes, they make they keep everything ready for you.
This is one fun activity which you should engage in to have utmost fun while you spend a nice sunny day out.
Make sure to carry some dry food and loads of water in your bag to avoid any inconvenience.
Is Santo Andre worth visiting?
The answer is Yes.
Santo Andre is worth visiting.
This is because it is such a magical place
full of beauty and adventours.
Especially if you go shopping:
Shopping in Santo Andre
Visit the Rua
Coronel Oliveira Lima or the Grand plaza shopping
for the best deals on the most branded stuff that you would have been waiting to buy.
Everything from perfumes, cosmetics and apparel is present.
The best shopping areas also have a huge collection of local apparel which is made from the textiles that are manufactured here.
While some shopping areas are pedestrian shopping streets and the surroundings filled with flea markets, the neighboring areas also have shopping complexes which you can shop from.
The Grans Plaza shopping is an area which is very close to the train station and has the maximum number of people visiting it.
It also attracts a large number of people for the bowling alley that it has.
With around 305 shops and ten movie screens, the options for leisure are not limited.
If you are looking at spending a fun day, you need to go and check out the bowling area here.
With around 24 bowling tracks of excellent international quality, nothing can make a better game of bowling.
What else to see in Santo Andre?
Trem dos Ingleses
Also called the Museu Ferroviano, the Term dos Ingleses makes you enjoy beautiful steam locomotive ride in the original part of the train line which has been in existence ever since the trains had been introduced into the area.
Care has been taken to introduce these train lines at all the major junctions of the city and while you go around chugging in the train, you care also sightseeing the entire place very comfortable.
A ride of this early train is a wonderful experience and you would have a lot of fun while you move around noticing the major landmarks.
Most of the times there are guides in the train which make you aware of your nearby places and also narrate a brief history of each of the landmarks that you can see making the place familiar to you.
Popular places to visit in Santo Andre
Sabina
A great place to take your children to, Sabina is a wonderful science center and has the epitome of entertainment in it.
With a huge aquarium and penguins, the huge science center is very neat and has a model of the humongous earth which has been made from recyclable material.
You would also be able to enjoy, a thunderstorm simulator, a large fish tank, a moving T-Rex and the center’s main audience remains to be school children and instructors.
Various first hand sciences experiments make this place a delight to be in.
While you may not find a full fletched restaurant, there are many small places to eat in that offer good food.
You need to be careful with your children at this place.
The intriguing nature of the place makes it a delight from your children often engaging them to the extent that they refuse to go back.
A must visit for those who like first-hand experiences.
Carmo Cathedral Right in the middle of Santo Andre, the cathedral is beautiful.
The Carmo Cathedral is known for its high windows and beautiful paintings inside the entire place.
Not just from the inside but this church is amazingly beautiful from the outside.
High Altars and majestic woodwork of the inlay make it possible to be lost in the sanctity of this place.
The statues and the paintings are amazing and they transport you to the divine world.
Very well maintained, this is one of the oldest Cathedrals in Santo Andre and is also one of the best.
You can sit here and feel peaceful with the mass and feel in sync with life again.
A beautiful church in the middle of everything makes this place just too good to be at.
There are also ice cream parlors when you come out of the church in the opposite lane and you can relish a good ice cream, on your way out.
Things to do in Santo Andre with kids
Garden Now
With a lovely and broad infrastructure, this place is the most happening nightlife spot here.
The temperature is the perfect and so is the quality of drinks on the menu.
The best part about this place is the amazing music.
Along with the best drinks that can be offered at the most economical services, this place is the young hearts crowd.
A live band would play the best music around while you surf and have table of your favorite game while you are sipping the best beer in town.
Whether you like grooving to music, or you enjoy a good game, this place has every option available for you.
Garden Now has slowly gained repute as the most important night spot of the city.
You can also enjoy very nice skate videos and surfing to have a fun filled evening.
A must visit with your partner for some cool night fun.
Santo Andre offers you the best of tourism and visiting with the perfect balance between religion, fun and street culture.
A visit to his place is necessary to have a glimpse of the culture here.
Awesome food and a good management of the city make it neat and planned making your move about the city very pleasant.
Be it enjoying night life or making the day feel special, this place has it all.
So if you have a vacation pending on your list, no is the time to make the most of it.