Altino Arantes Building
Building Historic São Paulo skyscraper with observation deck
São Paulo’s Altino Arantes Building (formerly Banespa) is an Art Deco skyscraper with an observation deck overlooking the city centre. Visitors tour its museum exhibits and take in downtown views.
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The Altino Arantes Building is a landmark skyscraper in central São Paulo, Brazil, historically associated with the state’s bank and completed in the mid 20th century. It is one of the city’s best-known Art Deco high-rises and a local symbol of São Paulo’s 20th-century growth.
A compact highlight is the building’s upper-level viewing area, which offers wide views over the dense urban grid of São Paulo. The tower’s stepped silhouette was influenced by contemporary American skyscraper design and stands out in the historic Centro business district.
Commissioned as the headquarters for the Banco do Estado de São Paulo, the building opened in the 1940s and served as the bank’s flagship for decades. It has since been renovated and adapted for public visits and cultural displays while retaining its original civic function.
The tower sits in downtown São Paulo near the Vale do Anhangabaú and the Viaduto do Chá, within walking distance of many central transit connections and commercial streets.
- Observation deck: An observation deck near the top provides panoramic views across central São Paulo and is the main visitor attraction.
How to Get to Altino Arantes Building #
The building is centrally located near Praça da Sé and Avenida São João; São Paulo’s metro lines and municipal buses reach the area. Walking from Sé station is straightforward.
Tips for Visiting Altino Arantes Building #
- Take the elevator to the observation deck for skyline views of São Paulo and to appreciate the building's art-deco features.
- Visit during weekday daylight hours to see the building in use; some floors house municipal offices and exhibitions.
- Explore Avenida Paulista and nearby MASP to place the Altino Arantes Building in the context of São Paulo's financial history.
Best Time to Visit Altino Arantes Building #
Autumn and spring offer comfortable temperatures and clearer skies for skyline vistas; summer can be hot with afternoon storms.
Weather & Climate near Altino Arantes Building #
Altino Arantes Building's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in January) and mild winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 11°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1472 mm/year), wettest in January.
January
January is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (247 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. Heavy rain (227 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 17°C. Significant rainfall (173 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the coolest month with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm).
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August
August is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (135 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (135 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 17°C. Heavy rain (202 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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