Rua Augusta (São Paulo)

23°33′25.0″S 46°39′32.3″W

Augusta Street

Native name	Rua Augusta (Portuguese)
Length	3.020 km (1.877 mi)
Location	São Paulo, Brazil
From	Rua Martinho Prado, 212 near Praça Roosevelt
To	Rua Colômbia, 26, crossing with Rua Estados Unidos, Jardins
Construction
Inauguration	1875

Rua Augusta is a street in São Paulo, Brazil, connecting the neighborhood of Jardins to the city's downtown. The upper part of the street, near Jardins is known as an upscale shopping street; the stretch known as Baixo Augusta (Lower Augusta), between the Paulista Avenue and Praça Roosevelt, is known by its nightlife, with clubs, bars and live music venues.^{[1] [2]}

History

The first references of the street date from 1875, first as Rua Maria Augusta; in 1897 the street already appears as Rua Augusta. The street was part of the lands of the Portuguese Mariano António Vieira, owner of Chácara do Capão farm since 1880, when he opened several streets in Bela sintra neighborhood, including Rua da Real Grandeza, current Avenida Paulista. Vieira decided to open a dirt trail, since the roads were very steep, to install donkey-pulled trams, in 1890. In 1891, with the inauguration of electric lights, the trams were powered by electricity.

Between 1910 and 1912 the street was extended to Rua Álvaro de Carvalho, becoming officialized in 1927. Until 1942 Rua Martins Fontes was part of Rua Augusta. The street gradually became a major prostitution point, at which time it was dismembered (Decree Law No. 153). From the opposite side, towards Jardins, its stretch to the Rua Estados Unidos was made official in 1914.^[3]

References

1. Romero, Simon (2013-03-22). "The New New São Paulo". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
2. Bevins, Vincent (2011-10-03). "A hip street in Sao Paulo, Brazil, moves to a different beat". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
3. "DICIONÁRIO DE RUAS". dicionarioderuas.prefeitura.sp.gov.br. Retrieved 2018-12-10.