Memorial da América Latina by Oscar Niemeyer

Opened on the 18th of March 1989 at Barra Funda, The Memorial da América Latina was created to spread the Latina American manifestations of creativity and knowledge, always with intention of cultural relation, interaction, political, economical and social. In an area of 84.480m2, the architect Oscar Niemeyer projected the space based on a cultural project developed by the Brazilian sociologist Darcy Ribeiro, who always defended the integration of Latin America. The space is divided in many ambients as The Praça Cívica (Civic Square), an open area where is located one of the biggest symbols of the Memorial, the sculpture “A Mão Grande” , symbolizing the bloodshed by the Latin America people on the fight for freedom; o Salão de Atos Tiradentes, with six panels that tell the history of Latin America colonization, the auditorium Simon Bolívar, famous for having already received Heads of State as Bill Clinton, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, among others; the Biblioteca Latino-America ( Latin America library), with nearly 30 thousand volumes, the Pavilhão da Criatividade Popular Darcy Ribeiro ( Popular Creativity Pavilion Darcy Ribeiro), that has a model with almost one thousand small peaces, created by the artists Gepp and Maia, with the main touristic attractions in Latin America and scenes like the one from the book “The old man and the sea” by Ernest Hemingway written in Cuba. The pavilion also holds a permanent exposition of Popular Art in Latin America. There is also the Anexo dos Congressistas, a space dedicated to the academic and diplomatic activities; small expositions and the Galeria Marta Traba de Arte Latino-Americana, opened in 1998 and also projected by Oscar Niemeyer. Apart from all those ambients, the Memorial stands as one of the most important touristic attractions in the city by the great names that received until today, like Luciano Pavarotti and the Cuban Ballet. Also held for many years the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo’s Symphony Orchestra).