Sé is the name of the most central borough in the city of

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

, in

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

, divided in eight districts. The name comes from the presence of São Paulo Cathedral (''Catedral da Sé'') in the borough, and it is also the name of the central square (

Praça da Sé Praça da Sé ( English: '' See Square'') is a public space in São Paulo, Brazil. Considered as the city's central point, it is the point from where the distance of all roads passing through São Paulo are counted. The square was the location of ...

). Also located in the Sé are the Pátio do Colégio, site of the foundation of the city in 1554, the São Paulo stock exchange (the

Bovespa B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (in English, ''B3 – Brazil Stock Exchange and Over-the-Counter Market''), formerly BM&FBOVESPA, is a stock exchange located in São Paulo, Brazil, and the second oldest in the country. Its current form can be ...

), the mayor's palace and other historical buildings, including the Municipal Theater of São Paulo, the São Paulo Music Hall ( Sala São Paulo) and the central railway Luz Station (

Estação da Luz Luz Station (, ) is a commuter rail and intercity rail station in the Bom Retiro (district of São Paulo), Bom Retiro district of São Paulo, Brazil, serving RFFSA, the intercity rail network of Brazil, Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos ...

). Immigrant groups established in the Sé borough include

Italians Italians (, ) are a European peoples, European ethnic group native to the Italian geographical region. Italians share a common Italian culture, culture, History of Italy, history, Cultural heritage, ancestry and Italian language, language. ...

(in Bela Vista),

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

ese (in Liberdade), and

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

(in Bom Retiro). Sé is also the borough with the largest number of subway stations. There are many areas of popular commerce, like the 25 de Março Street (one of the most popular area of commerce in Brazil, though often illegal), and high-class areas such as Pacaembu and Higienópolis. The famous Paulista Avenue (Avenida Paulista) is the southwest limit of this borough, with the borough of Pinheiros. The neighbourhood (and the later city) has developed between the three ancient churches of

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or Virgin of Carmel, is a Roman Catholic Titles of Mary, title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated as patron saint, patroness of the Carmelites, Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on M ...

Saint Benedict Benedict of Nursia (; ; 2 March 480 – 21 March 547), often known as Saint Benedict, was a Great Church, Christian monk. He is famed in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, and Old ...

and Saint Francis of Assisi (which part of it was expropriated by Emperor Pedro II for the establishment of the Law School). This borough is also an important college center with the very traditional Law School of the

University of São Paulo The Universidade de São Paulo (, USP) is a public research university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, and the largest public university in Brazil. The university was founded on 25 January 1934, regrouping already existing schools in ...

and Mackenzie University, founded by North American Presbyterian missionaries in the 19th century.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Se (Sao Paulo) Districts of São Paulo

See also

References