Pateo do Collegio marks the site where Jesuits José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega founded São Paulo in 1554, in the city’s historic centre. The present Portuguese Colonial-style building was rebuilt in the 1950s. Its museum displays maps of early São Paulo, sacred art and relics; the grounds also include a garden, crypt, library and the São José de Anchieta Church. Visit for a compact look at the city’s beginnings and Jesuit history. The courtyard can be seen without entering the museums, which require a ticket.
The site where São Paulo began
Pateo do Collegio is associated with the Jesuit foundation of São Paulo in 1554. José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega were among the priests who established a school here. The first structure was a simple hut made from mud and straw; the site later underwent changes and periods of neglect.
The building now on the square is a Portuguese Colonial-style reconstruction from the 1950s. Its appearance recalls the colonial period, but it is not the original 1554 structure. The church was constructed in 1896 in a style based on the earlier chapel.
Museum, church and grounds
The Anchieta Museum presents material connected with São Paulo’s beginnings, including maps of the city in colonial times, sacred art and relics. The complex also includes the São José de Anchieta Church, the Jesuit Museum of Sacred Art, the Padre Antônio Vieira Library, a crypt and a garden. The courtyard can be visited without entering the museums; museum visits require a ticket.
Check access before travelling if your visit falls on a religious event or public holiday. The site may be closed to general visitors while a service is being prepared. Guided tours are another way to learn more about the place and its collections.
FAQ
Where was São Paulo founded?
Pateo do Collegio marks the site where Jesuits established the city in 1554.
Is Pateo do Collegio free to visit?
The courtyard can be visited for free. You need a ticket to enter the museums.
What can you see inside Pateo do Collegio?
The museum displays maps of early São Paulo, sacred art and relics. The complex also has a church, garden, crypt and library.
Is the current building original?
No. The present Portuguese Colonial-style building was rebuilt in the 1950s. The site itself is associated with São Paulo’s founding in 1554.
