Antônio Prado Square

Antônio Prado Square, formerly known as Largo do Rosário, is located in the Sé district of the Brazilian city of São Paulo. São Bento, João Brícola and Quinze de Novembro streets intersect at the square.

History

The square's current name is a tribute to Antônio da Silva Prado, a coffee grower, banker, jurist, journalist and politician who held several public positions throughout his life. As mayor of São Paulo, he implemented major urban improvements, such as the straightening of many streets in the city center. The square, which once housed the old Church of the Rosary of Black Men, received the city's first monument in honor of Zumbi dos Palmares at the end of 2016.
Today, the site preserves architectural influences from the 20th century, such as the wooden kiosks selling newspapers and magazines and offering services such as public telephones and shoeshine.

Nichile's public clock

Antônio Prado Square is home to Nichile's last public clock, which measures and was registered in 1992 for its historical value. It was built in 1935 and, since Octávio de Nichile's death in 1986, it has been maintained by his family. There were a total of six clocks spread across the city of São Paulo in areas such as Largo do Arouche and Sé Square. Their implementation resulted from the work of executive Octávio de Nichile, who sold the advertising spaces in the structure of the poles that supported the clocks.