The Bandeirante's House
Bandeirantes were the explorers who, from the 16th to the 18th century, leaving mainly from São Paulo, went deep inland looking for natives they could enslave, and for precious metals and stones. Soon they found that the natives didn't make good slaves, because they refused to work. They found some mines, but not all the gold or the emeralds they hoped for. The lasting result of their travels, though, was that they explored and colonized a great part of the current Brazilian territory (which by the treaties in effect at that time should belong to Spain) for the Portuguese crown.
This house, near the Pinheiros river in São Paulo (and at walking distance from my home), never belonged to a bandeirante, and was probably built in the mid 18th century. It is a taipa house: the thick walls are built of compacted earth.
In 1954, when the city celebrated its 4th centennial, the house was restored and furnished to resemble a typical house of that period. Later it was decided that this was not the best approach from a museology point of view, so today it is used for temporary exhibitions.
This house, near the Pinheiros river in São Paulo (and at walking distance from my home), never belonged to a bandeirante, and was probably built in the mid 18th century. It is a taipa house: the thick walls are built of compacted earth.
In 1954, when the city celebrated its 4th centennial, the house was restored and furnished to resemble a typical house of that period. Later it was decided that this was not the best approach from a museology point of view, so today it is used for temporary exhibitions.
