Attraction
MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo
São Paulo's best-known art museum, raised above Avenida Paulista on Lina Bo Bardi's suspended concrete structure and holding more than 8,000 works from Raphael to Portinari.
Mosteiro de São Bento
A Benedictine monastery founded in 1598, with an early 20th-century neo-Romanesque basilica where Mass is sung in Gregorian chant and monks sell their own baking.
At a glance
- Type
- Benedictine monastery and basilica
- Area
- Centro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Official site
- mosteiro.org.br
Good to know
- Gregorian chant
- Pipe organ
- Monastery bakery
Why we recommend it
The Mosteiro de São Bento is one of the oldest institutions in São Paulo. The Benedictine community was founded here on 14 July 1598, and the monastery still occupies its site on Largo São Bento in the historic centre. The present basilica dates from the early 20th century and was designed by Richard Berndl, a former professor at the University of Munich, in a neo-Romanesque style that stands out among the office blocks of the centre.
Inside, the stained-glass windows by Adalbert Gressnigt are the first thing to look at. The Evangelists appear at the entrance, the death of Saint Benedict is shown in the monks' choir and Our Lady of the Assumption presides over the high altar. On the left of the transept is a German Walcker organ from 1954 with more than 6,000 pipes. The monastery prepared for its most famous guest, Pope Benedict XVI, with a restoration in 2006; he stayed here in May 2007 during his first visit to Brazil.
The main reason many visitors come is the music. The monks sing both Mass and the Divine Office in Gregorian chant, which makes attending a service one of the most atmospheric experiences in the centre. Check the monastery's current timetable before going, since service times can change, and arrive early for the popular Sunday Mass. This is a working monastery and church, so dress modestly, stay quiet and do not take photographs during services.
The community also runs a bakery. Since 1999 it has sold cakes, breads, jams and biscuits made from recipes kept in the monastery's archives, and it is worth picking something up after a visit. The monastery's other institutions include the Colégio São Bento, founded in 1903, and a faculty of philosophy founded in 1908.
Allow 30 minutes for the basilica, or longer if you attend a service. São Bento metro station is close by. The Farol Santander observation deck in the Altino Arantes building is a few steps away, and the Catedral da Sé, the Mercado Municipal and the Viaduto Santa Ifigênia can all be reached on foot, so the monastery is a natural stop on a walk through the old centre.
Mosteiro de São Bento FAQs
When was the monastery founded?
The Benedictine community was founded on 14 July 1598.
Can I hear Gregorian chant?
Yes. The monks sing Mass and the Divine Office in Gregorian chant; check the current timetable before you go.
Is there a dress code?
It is an active church and monastery, so modest clothing and quiet behaviour are expected.
What can I buy at the bakery?
Cakes, breads, jams and biscuits made from recipes kept in the monastery archives, sold since 1999.
Who designed the basilica?
Richard Berndl, a former professor at the University of Munich, in neo-Romanesque style.
Which metro station is nearest?
São Bento station is the nearest metro stop.
Did a pope stay here?
Yes. Pope Benedict XVI stayed at the monastery in May 2007 during his first visit to Brazil.
What is nearby?
The Farol Santander, the Catedral da Sé and the Mercado Municipal are all within walking distance.