São Sebastião's "discovery" as tourist destiny happens after the opening of the highway Rio-Santos in the end of the seventies, providing to the municipal district one more development opportunity, now based on the tourism. With their lodgings, São Sebastião is, in a controlled way and ecological, one of the most beautiful tourist destinies today.

Historical patrimony of São Sebastião

One of the oldest cities of the state of São Paulo, the municipal district of São Sebastião has seven blocks and several other buildings tumbled separately by Condephaat (Council of Defense of the Patrimony Historical, Artistic, Architectural and Tourist of the State) from 1969. Among the most significant constructions of the center they are the Igreja Matriz, the House of Camera, the Chain and the Casa Esperança.

The Matriz was implanted originally in the century XVII, but the current construction dates from the century XIX. The building in wall maintains characteristics of the Jesuit influence.

The House of Camera and the Chain have characteristics of the architecture of the century XVII, similar the other existent ones in Minas Gerais. There the pillory worked, that existed behind until some decades. The Casa Esperança is the historical construction more nobleman of the municipal district, done in stone and whitewash, with mortar of shells, it polishes and whale oil and it is also tumbled in national level, by IPHAN (Institute of the Historical and Artistic Patrimony National). The stones that adorn the esquadrias - ready arrivals of Portugal - and the paintings in the roof shows a wealth that was not common in the constructions of the time in São Sebastião, that was never a rich municipal district like Paraty, for instance. It is exemplarmente maintained by matters.

Also in the Street of the Beach, beside the Casa Esperança, it is the headquarters of the General office of Tourism, Sports and Culture, construction of the beginning of the century XX and that sheltered the first school group of the city. Remained him of the old Hotel Praia can also be seen two blocks ahead, but today is with precarious maintenance by the owners.

Still in downtown, in the Sebastião Silvestre Neves ST., there is the chapel of São Gonçalo. Recently recovered, and that bases the Museum of Sacred Art. The Dória's House, built in 1906 close to the Antônio Argino Square, it is a transition example between the colonial architecture and the modernity and it sheltered one of the most traditional families of the city, Dória. The Headquarters of the Division of Historical-cultural Patrimony of Secec is in remained him of the Matriz Square, a construction of the century XIX.

Out Downtown they are two important examples of our patrimony: the Convent of Nossa Senhora do Amparo and Santana Farm. The convent, in the neighborhood San Francisco, is the oldest building of the municipal district, dating from the century XVII. Fazenda Santana, in Pontal da Cruz, had first thirsty built in the century XVIII; today is a reconstruction. Its aqueduct, inheritance of the times in that Farm was cane mill, it also deserves to be seen.

Dated in majority of the beginning of the century XX, the chapels inhabitants of the seaside in the beaches also deserve to be visited as representatives of the patrimony cultural sebastianense. They are protected by law and some, as the one of Barra do Sahy, Maresias, Toque Toque Grande and Pequeno keep still a lot of the simplicity of their original constructions.

São Sebastião's Attractions

Historical Center
They are seven blocks tumbled by the National Historical Patrimony. It conserves a colonial architectural nucleus Sixties constructions.

Big houses
In downtown you will find the colonial big houses, properties of wealthy families. They were built around of the Matriz church and three centuries ago they represent the political and social progress of the municipal district.

Nossa Senhora do Amparo Convent
It's the oldest building of the city. Located to the edge sea, the Convent and its church compose one of the most beautiful and interesting sceneries that can be seen in São Sebastião.

Santana Farm
Located in the neighborhood of Pontal da Cruz, and built in 1743, it haves house of stone and wall that it shelters the residence of the family, the Chapel and a Mill.

Matriz Church
It is a mark in the people inhabitant's of the seaside history, being an important religiosity symbol and development of the municipal district of São Sebastião.

Beaches
They are many: Enseada, Cigarras, São Francisco, Olaria, Arrastão, Pontal da Cruz, Deserta, Porto Grande, Centro, Preta, Grande, Pitangueiras, Cabelo Gordo, Baraqueçaba, Guaecá, Brava, Toque-Toque Grande, Toque Toque Pequeno, Calhetas, Santiago, Paúba, Maresias, Brava, Boiçucanga, Camburi, Baleia, Barra do Sahy, Conchas, Juquehy, Barra do Una, Juréia and Boracéia.

Waterfall Trail of Ribeirão do Itu
6 hours of walk for the Atlantic forest observing the fauna and the flora, interrupted by crossing of rivers and baths in waterfalls with crystalline water.

Praia Brava Trail
Trail that the final destiny is a deserted beach of white sand and sea with strong undulation. The view in the road is of hillside forest and sandbank.

Morro do Abrigo/Guaecá Trail Out from the Morro do Abrigo and raisin inside for old ranches of the Park. Many wild fruits can be experienced for the road. The final destiny is a bath in the beach of Guaecá.

Limeira's old road Trail
Out from the neighborhood Enseada and goes to the Highway of Rio Pardo. Great for walks to horse or jeep and practice of mountain bike.

Surf
The best beaches for the practice of the surf are Maresias, Brava, Juréia, Camburi and out at sea open in the Montão de Trigo island.

Canoeing
Can be practiced in Barra do Una.

Rapel
Can be practiced in the waterfalls of Boiçucanga.

Free Diving
In Barra do Sahy, Ilhas, Alcatrazes, Ilha dos Gatos, Ilha de Toque Toque, Montão de Trigo, Baleia and Paúba.

The Islands
São Sebastião has a lot of crystalline water, beaches desérticas, dolphins. All this surrounded by the sea. The main ones: Island of the Couves, Archipelago of Alcatrazes, Ilhas, Ilha do Gato, Montão de Trigo and Toque-Toque Island.

The Night
The night life is agitated, mainly in the beach of Maresias.

São Sebastião in Paulista coast
São Sebastião composes with Ilhabela, Caraguatatuba and Ubatuba the São Paulo north coast. The population of 48.596 inhabitants, distributed by their 401 km of mountainous territory, covered by the Atlantic forest, with 100 km of coast ornamented for more than 30 beaches of visual beautiful, that they attract tourists of every country, being important source of exchange value. The active trade and competitive tourism, the trails and waterfalls are the main attractions for the adventurers.