Largo da Memoria
es. It is triangular in shape and was constructed towards the close of the colonial era, the square is home to the Piques Obelisk (Piques Pyramid), which was initially unveiled in 1814 and is hence the oldest monument in São Paulo. The square was constructed on what was once known as "Piques," a triangle-shaped ravine that provided muleteers who carried cargo with a point of entry and departure into the city of São Paulo. When the square was first constructed, animals were employed to haul merchandise and products. Their owners would stop to fill up their water bottles at the nearby fountain and give their animals a break from arduous travels. It also served as a gathering spot for the locals.
During the colonial period there was a slave market in the square. Largo da Memória was designated as a state heritage site in 1975 by the Council for the Defense of Historical, Archaeological, Artistic, and Tourist Heritage and as a municipal heritage site by the Municipal Council for the Preservation of the Historical, Cultural, and Environmental Heritage of the City of São Paulo in 1991, owing to the place's significance in the formation of the city.
Created by Angel Akinleye (Howard University '25)