Embu das Artes



Embu das Artes is a city in the Grande São Paulo, São Paulo state. "Embu," as it is often referred to, is also knowns as Land of the Arts or, simply, Embu of the Arts. The name appeared in the 1960s, with a strong movement characterized by the primitive art and the influence of the hippie culture in the city. Painters, artists, and artesoes have elected the city as the landmark of the Brazilian culture.

Understand
The city of Embu began from the M'Boy indigenous settlement, founded by Jesuits between 1555-1559. The Nossa Senhora do Rosário church, still present in the city, was constructed in the second half of the 17th century.

The peaceful town started to change in 1920, when the painter Cássio M'Boy, a lover of the caipira lifestyle, arrived in Embu. Cássio earned an international award in Paris in 1939, and afterwards, Embu started receiving an influx of artists, like Assis, Sakai, Gama, Solano Trindade and Ana Moysés.

At the end of the 1960s, hippies started the tradition of the Open Arts Fair in the city, that persists in the weekends and holidays to this day. In 2011, Embu changed its name to Embu das Artes.

By car
Embu das Artes is a 40-min drive from downtown São Paulo, approximately 15 miles. Rodovia Regis Bittencourt (BR-116) leaves São Paulo in the direction of Curitiba, as you pass Taboão da Serra then Itapecerica da Serra. It can be easily accessed by taking Av. Francisco Morato, in São Paulo, and following the signs to Taboão da Serra.

By bus
Embu das Artes can also be accessed from São Paulo by metropolitan buses (EMTU), that depart from some metro stations including Tietê, Anhangabaú and Capão Redondo. These buses are cheap (most cost R$3-4) but not very practical, as some take longer than 2 hours to get to Embu.

Get around
The area of interest to a visitor is the city center, which can be easily explored on foot.

Buy
Works of art and handcrafts produced by local artists/artesans can be bought both at the open air fair and at shops in the Center. In the shops you can also buy handmade furniture and antiquities.

Eat
Embu das Artes' speciality dish is the leitão à pururuca, a typical Caipira dish consisting of roasted piglet with dried and fried skin. The city center offers plenty of options of snackbars and restaurants.