Embu das Artes

The city of Embu began from the M'Boy indigenous settlement, founded by Jesuits between 1555-1559. The Nossa Senhora do Rosário church, still present in the city, was constructed in the second half of the 17th century.
The peaceful town started to change in 1920, when the painter Cássio M'Boy, a lover of the caipira lifestyle, arrived in Embu. Cássio earned an international award in Paris in 1939, and afterwards, Embu started receiving an influx of artists, like Assis, Sakai, Gama, Solano Trindade and Ana Moysés.
At the end of the 1960s, hippies started the tradition of the Open Arts Fair in the city, that persists in the weekends and holidays to this day. In 2011, Embu changed its name to Embu das Artes.

By car

Embu das Artes is a 40-min drive from downtown São Paulo, approximately 15 miles. Rodovia Regis Bittencourt (BR-116) leaves São Paulo in the direction of Curitiba, as you pass Taboão da Serra then Itapecerica da Serra. It can be easily accessed by taking Av. Francisco Morato, in São Paulo, and following the signs to Taboão da Serra.

By bus

Embu das Artes can also be accessed from São Paulo by metropolitan buses (EMTU), that depart from some metro stations including Tietê, Anhangabaú and Capão Redondo. These buses are cheap (most cost R$3-4) but not very practical, as some take longer than 2 hours to get to Embu.

The area of interest to a visitor is the city center, which can be easily explored on foot.

• Feira de Arte e Artesanato

  phone: +55 11 4704-6565, +55 11 4781-5971
  address: Centro
  Occupying all the central area of the city, the traditional open air fair, that happens since 1969, invites the visitor on a journey to the Brazilian colonial period. The 462 expositors are divided in the sections of plastic arts, ornamental artes, plants and typical foods. Undoubtedly the highlight of a visit to Embu das Artes.

• Capela de Santa Cruz

  phone: +55 11 4704-6565, +55 11 4781-5971
  address: Rua Rebolo Gonzáles, 185, Vila Cercado Grande
  Small chapel designed by the artist Helaine Malca and decorated by José Luiz Alemãn.

• Capela São Lazaro

  phone: +55 11 4704-6565, +55 11 4781-5971
  address: Between Rua da Matriz and Rua Nossa Sra. do Rosário
  Colonial-style chapel constructed in 1934, containing an image of Saint Lazarus made by the city's legendary artist Cássio M'Boy, and the statue of Christ crafted by Zé Santeiro.

• Conjunto Jesuítico Nossa Senhora do Rosário

  phone: +55 11 4704-2654
  address: Largo dos Jesuítas, 67 – Centro
  A National Heritage Site, the 17th-century construction is composed by the Nossa Senhora do Rosário church and an old Jesuit residence, which is now a sacred art museum containing religious sculptures from the 17th-19th centuries.

• Memorial Sakai

  phone: +55 11 4241-5993
  address: Rua Rebolo Gonzáles, 185, Vila Cercado Grande
  Museum of art dedicated to the Japanese origin farmer and artist Tadakiyo Sakai, considered as one of the greatest terracotta sculptors of Brazil.

• Parque do Lago Francisco Rizzo

  phone: +55 11 4781-4953
  address: Rua Alberto Giosa, 300
  Nice public park with a large lake, for a relaxing stroll after shopping in the city center.

Works of art and handcrafts produced by local artists/artesans can be bought both at the open air fair and at shops in the Center. In the shops you can also buy handmade furniture and antiquities.

Embu das Artes' speciality dish is the leitão à pururuca, a typical Caipira dish consisting of roasted piglet with dried and fried skin. The city center offers plenty of options of snackbars and restaurants.

• Food Court

  address: Avenida Elias Yazbek, 1401, Praça da Lagoa
  An open fair food court equipped with tables and chairs, where you can prove snacks and local food in 24 kiosks.

• Cabana Embu

  phone: +55 11 4704-2749
  address: Largo 21 de Abril, 259 - Centro
  A caipira restaurant, one of the most traditional of Embu das Artes. Its speciality is the leitão à pururuca.

• Tutu's Restaurante

  phone: +55 11 4781-0655
  address: Largo 21 de Abril, 260 - Centro
  Another traditional caipira restaurant specialized in leitão à pururuca.

• O Garimpo Restaurante

  phone: +55 11 4785 1400
  address: Rua da Matriz, 136 - Centro
  Restaurant with mixed Brazilian and international food.

• Os Girassóis

  phone: +55 11 4781-6671
  address: Largo dos Jesuítas, 169 - Centro
  Restaurant that serves leitão à pururuca, einsbein (German dish) and others. All-you-can-eat pasta on Sundays.

• O Garimpo

  phone: +55 11 4785 1400
  address: Rua da Matriz, 136 - Centro
  Bar and club with four different environments, playing an eclectic selection of music. Live shows during the evening.