ABSTRACT

The city of São Paulo, Brazil’s largest metropolis, the capital of the state of the same name and the most important capital in the country, consecrated, as part of its history, a precise point that symbolizes its place of birth: the Jesuit church, erected on top of the hill dividing the basins of the Tamanduateí and Anhangabaú rivers. The year was 1554 and the date – which was surely carefully chosen by the Jesuit – was 25 January, São Paulo’s Day, in honour of the first apostle to preach to the Gentiles.