At completion in 1947, the 528-foot-tall (161-meter) tower was not only the city’s tallest building but also the tallest reinforced concrete structure and tallest building outside of the United States. Inspired by New York City’s Empire State Building, the tower exhibits Art Deco styling, both inside and out. Despite being the third tallest building in the city, the Farol Santander, which is also known as the Santander Lighthouse (farol means lighthouse in Portuguese), is situated on the highest point in downtown São Paulo, giving it the appearance of being even taller than the Mirante do Vale, which measures 558 feet (170 meters).
Panoramic, 360-degree views of the city from its lookout deck on the 26th floor encompass all of downtown and even the verdant Serra da Cantareira mountain range to the city’s north. Guided city tours of São Paulo typically included a stop at the skyscraper but you can also book tickets and schedule a visit through the website.