Perdizes

Did you know a bird helped name Perdizes? Perdizes traces its roots back to the 19th century. Back then, it was a rural area dotted with farms and estates. One of these farms belonged to Joaquim Alves. Senhor Alves sold garapa, a sugarcane juice. He also raised partridges in his yard. This area is now Largo Padre Péricles. These birds, “perdizes” in Portuguese, gave the area its informal name, Campo das Perdizes or Field of the Partridges. Perdizes officially appeared on the city map in 1897. The early 20th century saw Perdizes transform. The rural landscape gave way to residential and commercial development. By the 1940s, Perdizes became a middle-class neighborhood. Later, it evolved into the upscale area we see today with high-rise buildings. Perdizes even houses prestigious educational institutions. The Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, PUC-SP, established a campus here in 1946. The land for PUC-SP once belonged to Germaine Lucie Buchard, the Countess of Gontand Birou. It was known as Chácara Lúcia. The Carmelite nuns left their monastery in 1948. It was then donated to the Catholic University. The university complex includes the former Carmelite Convent and Chapel, designed by Alexandre Albuquerque in the early 1920s. The complex also includes the TUCA theater built in 1965. Perdizes today is a vibrant blend of old and new. Tree-lined streets create a peaceful atmosphere. Yet, the neighborhood offers plenty of modern amenities. Upscale shops and restaurants line the streets. Perdizes boasts excellent access to other parts of the city. It remains one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in São Paulo’s West Zone. Perdizes is much more than just a neighborhood. It’s a living testament to São Paulo’s rich history and constant evolution.