“Ermelino Matarazzo. Who was he?” That’s the question many visitors ask when they first arrive. Ermelino Matarazzo is a district in eastern São Paulo. It is named after the businessman Ermelino Matarazzo.
Ermelino Matarazzo was the son of Count Francesco Matarazzo. He was born in Sorocaba in 1883. Ermelino succeeded his father in business. Sadly he died young in a car accident in 1920. The accident happened in Bruzolo, Turin.
Ermelino Matarazzo covers 8.7 square kilometers. The district includes the sub-basin of the Mongaguá stream. The Ponte Rasa and Franquinho streams are also part of it. These streams flow into the Tietê River.
In 2010, Ermelino Matarazzo had 113,615 residents. A large percentage of residents, 97.3%, work outside the district. Ermelino Matarazzo is bordered by Guarulhos to the north. Vila Jacuí and Ponte Rasa lie to the east. Penha is to the west.
Ermelino Matarazzo is a working-class neighborhood. Yet its name honors a businessman. Over 18% of its population lives in favelas. The average income is below the capital’s average.
The area began to grow in 1941. Indústrias Matarazzo opened a factory named Celosul. It was South America’s only cellophane producer. Marino Bacaicoa, a former factory worker remembers this time. He moved to Ermelino from Penha. Back then, there were only farms and houses for Celosul employees. There was no electricity, asphalt, or commerce. The factory also attracted Italian, German, and English immigrants.
Electricity arrived in 1951. Initially, it only powered the factory and employee homes. Císper, a glass manufacturer, also benefited. It established itself in Ermelino Matarazzo in 1947. The Matarazzo family built the first school, cinema, and market. Employees used the group’s hospital on Avenida Paulista. The neighborhood is named after the grandson of Count Francisco Matarazzo. He directed the group and played on Celosul’s soccer team.
Celosul peaked in the early 1970s. Then it declined due to the Matarazzo group’s crisis. Despite this, the area attracted residents from other neighborhoods. Ermelino separated from São Miguel. It gained its own administration. Today Celosul operates as a cooperative. Císper also continues under new owners.
Leisure options were limited in Ermelino Matarazzo. The Jardim Belém fountain was a popular spot for couples. Men enjoyed soccer games. The fountain is gone. The local government works to create leisure areas for the community. Several squares have been revitalized.
The Subprefeitura negotiates with businesses. They participate in a program to adopt public areas. They maintain squares and gardens. A revitalized area is the Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns park. It includes the Matarazzo family’s former summer residence built in 1941.
The Matarazzo mansion is Ermelino’s only surviving historical building. In the past there was also the Casa da Moenda do Sítio Piraquara. It was built by the Guaianases Indians in the 16th century.
The train station opened in 1924. It connected Itaim Paulista, São Miguel, and Calmon Viana. Today CPTM uses the tracks. However, trains cannot meet the high demand during peak hours. Bus lines start only in neighboring districts. Transport is a major complaint for Ermelino residents.
Residents of Ermelino Matarazzo organize a large Labor Day celebration. It attracts 50,000 people each day. The community tries to maintain the same spirit as the first festival in 1959.