At Praça do Centenário, a relief map shows the regions, districts and rivers of Presidente Prudente. This makes the city’s layout visible in a specific place. Also on the square stands a monument nearly nine metres high depicting Coronel Marcondes and Coronel Goulart. The two founding fathers joined forces to found and develop Presidente Prudente. The map and monument highlight two different aspects: the city’s spatial structure and its founding history. Together, they present two aspects that are connected to Presidente Prudente in different ways.

City History at the Museum and in the Squares

The Museu e Arquivo Histórico de Presidente Prudente maintains a permanent exhibition on the history of the municipality. It focuses clearly on the local past. Another historical landmark is Praça 9 de Julho: it was inaugurated in 1918 as “Passeio Público” and is located in the centre, opposite Catedral São Sebastião. Its former name and year of inauguration give the square’s history a specific point of reference in time; its central location and the cathedral opposite place it in today’s cityscape. The museum and square thus offer different perspectives on the municipality’s history: a permanent exhibition and a historic place in the centre.

Culture in a Former Industrial Complex

The Centro Cultural Matarazzo is located at Rua Quintino Bocaiúva 749 in the Vila Marcondes neighbourhood, in the former facilities of Indústrias Reunidas Fábricas Matarazzo. It offers a wide variety of spaces for culture and the arts. The site’s former industrial use and its cultural offerings represent two different layers of its history. Compared with the Museu e Arquivo Histórico, the focus here is on culture and the arts, not on a permanent exhibition about the municipality’s history. The street and neighbourhood provide a specific location, situating the cultural centre within Presidente Prudente and helping you find your way when planning your trip.

Public Spaces and Conditions of Use

Parque do Povo covers approximately 460,000 m². As a large public space, it adds a different dimension to the selection compared with the individual historic squares and cultural sites. Its approximate area may help you consider it as a distinct spatial focus when planning. In this way, the park complements the themes of city history and culture with another perspective on Presidente Prudente.

For Balneário da Amizade, the planned activity matters. The recreational area lies on the border with Álvares Machado. As of April 11, 2025, it was open to the public for walks; swimming was still prohibited. Check the conditions of use before visiting. This ensures that both the date of the access information and the swimming restriction are taken into account when planning. Its location on the border with Álvares Machado is also part of the site’s geographic context.

SESC Thermas de Presidente Prudente has heated pools. Check current usage before your visit. Two different questions can help with your choice: at Balneário da Amizade, the considerations are access for walks and the swimming ban; at SESC Thermas, they are the current usage of the heated pools. This comparison makes the differences between the two recreational options clear for your planning.

Discover more destinations: Campos Do Jordão, São José Dos Campos, Cunha, Franca, Pirapozinho, Itaberá, Valinhos, Leme

For the main travel overview: São Paulo.