Old Santos captured on canvass!

Pinacoteca
Within the Casarão Branco, on the Praia de Boqueirão, are exhibited the wonderful paintings of Benedicto Calixto, one of Brazil’s greatest artists. From his paintings, we are able to recapture that which time and man did not preserve, beautiful images of Santos at the end of the 19th century.

Visit this fascinating museum
At the end of the beach, you will find the Museu da Pesca, which was built in 1908 over the ruins of Forte Augusto, and to-day provides an unforgettable excursion, especially for those who are accompanied by children. Within a large area, you will see the skeleton of a Fin Whale, 23meters in length, Sharks and enormous preserved Squid, working exhibits and the Petrobrás submarine simulator, where you feel as though you are placed upon the ocean floor, surrounded by the sounds and sights of the deep sea.

Aquário Municipal
Situated at the end of the beach, this is one of the Santos icons, the first aquarium constructed in Brazil in 1945, which to-day has 31 tanks containing over 4.000 species of marine fauna.

Such beautiful gardens!
According to the Guinness book of records, the Santos sea front is lined with the largest urban gardens in the world. There are 5.5km of gardens, joining the beaches Jose Menino to the Ponta da Praia. The Jardim Aristides Bastos Machado, better known as the Jardim de Santos, was laid out in neo classic style and has 1300 flower beds, planted with over 100 species, including yellow Lilies, Daisies, Iris and Zinnia. Every 300 meters, you will find shelter from the sun provided by tree canopies, appropriately called “Chapeu-de-Sol” (sun hat). The whole area is dotted with palms such as the Date Palm from the North East of Brazil and the Imperial Palm brought to Brazil in 1808 by the Portuguese Royal Family.

You must taste these Pasteis!
The Café Carioca, which first opened in 1939 in the Praça Mauá prepares the best “Pastel” in the world. A sort of fried, crunchy pasty, they are made to order, and you may choose the filling, minced-meat, cheese, shrimps or palm heart. Another famous meeting point, where even to-day well known figures gather for political and intellectual discussion is the Café Paulista, first opened in 1911.