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Sports.
Living in a house full of men, I have learned that they truly believe the only channels available on our cable network are ESPN1, ESPN2, MLB Channel, NFL Network, NHL Network, Sportsman Channel and ESPN News.
In high school, I was a basketball cheerleader and I have sat patiently through hours of my children’s soccer, basketball, baseball and rugby games. I like sports but love them? Maybe some more than others.
Soccer? It’s not so big in the United States…football takes that award. Though I admire the dexterity that soccer players have, I admit…I do have a hard time understanding the rules. But, soccer is huge in Brazil! And in this country, it is called football…or futbol. The greatest footballer in history, Pelé, hails from Brazil. So, when I found that there was a Futbol Museum housed in the nearby stadium, I decided that I had to go…surely, the Brazilians must do it up well!
A beautiful day in the city, it was a nice walk to the Pacaembu Stadium where I found the grounds filled with young kids practicing to the sounds of Brazilian music. Paying my admission, I first entered the stadium, gazing up at the stands and down at the rich, green turf that has withstood the trampling of the Big 4 football clubs of the State of São Paulo…Corinthians, Palmeiras, São Paulo and Santos.
The stadium, inaugurated on April 27, 1940, has a capacity of 40,199 and was named after Paulo Machado de Carvalho, the 1958 FIFA World Cup Brazilian delegation chief and founder of Rede Record (largest television networks in Brazil). Just beyond the stadium, the beautiful skyline of São Paulo is visible, reminding visitors that it is just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of busy Paulista Avenue. Many famous non-sports related performers have also graced its field including Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Avril Lavigne, Eric Clapton and Iron Maiden.
The museum is located under the stadium on the northwest side. After entering, you will be greeted with a two story atrium filled with framed posters and keepsakes reminding us of the impact futbol has made on the world. After heading up the escalator you will be greeted by a video of Pelé, broadcast on a screen at the top of the escalators, welcoming visitors to the museum.
Before making your way through the museum, be aware of one thing…everything is written in Portuguese. There is, however, a helpful app which guides you through each of the areas of the museum.
The museum is a modern affair, complete with videos, holograms, recordings and memorabilia. It explains how football came to Brazil at the end of the 19th century and how it became a groundbreaking affair with black and mixed race athletes being accepted in the 1930s.
Many areas of the museum contain interactive exhibits that you can access and participate in. After encountering the most famous football players in history, you will be able to listen to the Radio broadcasts by Ary Barroso from the 1940’s and Osmar Santos, four decades later. Here, you can choose your favorite announcer by name or by year when the goal took place. You can also choose your favorite historic goal and later on, practice your own goal kicks.
There are countless photographs, team flags and old uniform pieces…even old cleats. You can even challenge your friends to a game…of foosball,…the tabletop version of the game.
My favorite part of the museum, however, was the Room of Celebration. Dedicated to the fans of the sport, it reminds us how the sport unites. Sound bytes of cheering fans echo under the stadium and videos are broadcast on the supporting pillars…those firmly planted in the ground when the stadium was built and those that support the bleachers on which the fans congregate. It is very loud in this area…however, I am sure it is nothing compared to what is the reality during an exciting game!
The Futbol Museum is very interesting for all visitors, especially younger ones who may not understand what part Brazil played in escalating the sport. For the older visitors, it is a walk through the past. And for the price (less than $4), it is something truly worth experiencing in São Paulo!
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Museu do Futebol
- http://museudofutebol.org.br/
- Address: Praça Charles Miller, s/n – Pacaembu, São Paulo – SP, 01234-010, Brazil
- Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 0900-1700, Saturday and Sunday, 0900-1800, Closed Mondays, January 1, Ash Wednesday, December 24, 25 and 31.
- Admission: R$12 (about $3.68 U.S.), free to children under 7 years
- Getting There: Closest Metro stops, Clinicas, Estação Paulista do Metro, Higienópolis-Mackenzie
The phenomenal thing about Batman Alley is that you can visit each time you are in São Paulo and when you turn the corner into the alley, you never know what you may find. The art is continually renovated and looked after by the community and is always breathtaking. Even though it is ever changing, you can still find Batman, so be sure to search for him.
From my first visit to this unique area, I have noticed a huge increase in visitors. I’m not sure how I found this area, because years ago, it was not very well known to tourists and of course, takes a bit of doing to get there. Today, I observed more foot traffic as well as Uber depositing those too time-pressed to walk. There are many more cafes lining the streets adjacent to the alley and college-aged students and young professionals enjoying the sunshine and a beer or two.
The biggest difference, however, is in the alley itself. In addition to the hordes of people attempting to photograph the exclusive artwork, there are the young girls attempting to get the most awe-inspiring pictures for their Facebook profile or for Instagram. There are wanna-be photographers (some possibly real) and their wanna-be models complete with wardrobe changes and props, hoping that the exclusive location (if not the outcome of their work) will give both of their portfolios a leg-up. So unique is the area that I even observed a couple taking their engagement photos here!
Every wall is filled with amazing portraits, depictions and different styles of graffiti. If you are lucky, you might even catch an artist (or two) at work. Take your time, dodge the masses and be patient with the photo-shoots…Batman Alley is a place to relish…not rush, and, when you have finished walking through the alley, spend a little time walking the neighboring streets…many more interesting forms of artwork can be found, making the long walk to get there absolutely worth the blisters!
