Sao Paulo Also Has Its Sambadrome
Sao Paulo carnival is not as grand as Rio's, but worth trying it !
Contrary to the popular belief, there’s actually more than one Sambadrome in Brazil. In fact, there are more than two, but coming in second, after the one in Rio, is the Sao Paulo Sambadrome.
The Twin
You may just call the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo as Rio’s Sambadrome twin, especially because it was created for the same purpose. It also serves as a venue for the different samba schools to compete, however the ones that come from Sao Paulo and its nearby cities. Moreover, the building was also built by no less than Oscar Niemeyer, who completed the project in 1991, when it was inaugurated by Luiza Erundina, who headed the administration then. Yes, Niemeyer was also the same architect who was asked by Leonel Brizola, then governor, to put up the famous Sambodromo that you can find in Rio de Janeiro.
The Structure
The Sao Paulo Sambadrome is definitely smaller than the one in Rio. It is only 530 meters long and 14 meters wide, while Rio’s spans for around half a mile. This also means that it has a more limited capacity. It can accommodate up to 30,000 people in one sitting. There are also the same grandstands, where people can sit while watching the parade, made of concrete steps.
When it’s off season, the venue is transformed as a venue for the Indy Car series. A lot of concerts are also held there.
The Competitors
The competitors in Sambodromo are the local samba schools. Contrary to the people’s common sense, these schools are not literally schools but simply groups composed of people who belong to the same communities. Each member has its special role in the parade. Some will act as dancers, escorts, flag bearers, percussionists, and so on. The parades are usually one or two days before the main parades in Rio.
They would normally practice at least once a week usually from the months of September or October until February or March, when the carnival is usually held. Just like the samba parade in Rio, the carnival dates in Sao Paulo may change depending on the Lenten season. However, unlike the one in Rio, where the Carnival can last for even a week, in Sao Paulo the carnival is good for just one weekend, since most of the people must go back to work right after that. Moreover, prior to the actual competition the Sambadrome is opened to the public, and everyone is free to dance to the rhythmic samba beats.
Why You Should Consider Sao Paulo
There are some tourists who prefer to watch the carnival parade in the Sambadrome of Sao Paulo, for a wide variety of reasons. First, there are fewer people, so there’s a higher chance that you can get a better seat. There’s also less commotion, less people on the streets and the atmosphere is less touristy.
You can also contribute to its economy, since the annual carnival in Sao Paulo usually generates over 20,000 different types of direct and indirect jobs all across the more than 50 economic sectors of the city, making it the largest annual event in this busy city.
