Hospitality: a perspective for the requalification of the historical center of São Paulo

Abstract

This presentation aims at probing into the attempts to reorganize the historical centre of São Paulo, giving special attention to the importance of history, identity and hospitality in this process. The residents reckon the heritage of the city when it reaches the status of a place of memory, a sense of belonging, composes its history and integrates its culture: monuments, constructions, public places which shelter markets, parties and social gatherings. The involment of the residents with the heritage should be estimulated, incorporating it to the everyday life in an understandable way. Educational programmes on heritage are pointed out as strategies in order to involve the dwellers with their history, motivating the seizure of their past and citizenship practice. The interpretation of the heritage should be a process shared with the dwellers, whose initial approach to these places may be favoured with entertainment and leisure activities in their premises or neighbourhood. Hospitality is registered in this context of valorization of memory and history, in the process of translation of the daily routes in the city in an understandable way.