Região Contemplada: Ribeirão Pires e Paranapiacaba.

Officially founded in 1953, the city of Ribeirão Pires has roots that date back to the colonial era, when it lay along the routes used by muleteers crossing São Paulo’s interior. Located in the ABC metropolitan region and just over an hour from the capital, the city combines historical heritage with preserved green areas—offering unique settings with strong audiovisual potential.

The arrival of the railway in 1885 reshaped the urban landscape and marked the beginning of local industrialization. It attracted European immigrants and helped shape the city’s identity. This legacy lives on in locations such as the Capela Nossa Senhora do Pilar chapel, an 18th-century architectural gem. Listed as a heritage site by Condephaat, the rammed-earth structure and its frontal tower retain a timeless presence, blending into the verdant hillside landscape.

In the heart of the city, the Centro Histórico e Literário Ricardo Nardelli historical and literary center occupies the former train station and preserves the region’s cultural memory with its brightly colored façade. Surrounding the building are statues honoring the people of Ribeirão Pires who fought in World War II. Created and donated by the artist Carlinhos Artesão—who kept them in his garden for nearly a decade—the sculptures have now become part of the public space.

Another standout location is the old Fábrica de Sal salt factory, a three-story brick building designed in 1898. Weathered by the effects of sodium chloride, its orange-hued walls contrast with the rust-red of the old freight elevator; a separate section, built in concrete, features graffiti characteristic of urban street art interventions.

Natural landscapes also offer striking backdrops. Nestled in the foothills of the Serra do Mar mountain range and crossed by freshwater springs, the municipality preserves areas of significant environmental value—such as Fiori di Luce, which began a reforestation initiative in 1995.

Nearby, the village of Paranapiacaba—an architectural heritage site and a landmark of railway engineering—adds to the region’s rich collection of filming locations. Built in the 19th century to house workers of the São Paulo Railway Company, the village played a key role in transporting São Paulo’s coffee exports to the Port of Santos.

Its well-preserved English-style architecture and mist-shrouded, bucolic atmosphere—known locally as the véu da noiva (bride’s veil)—keep the memory of the past alive in locations such as the Estação do Trem Turístico train station. Built along cobblestone streets, it once served as a maintenance yard and shelter for locomotives. Through its arched openings, natural light filters in and offers a glimpse of Paranapiacaba’s iconic clock tower. Inspired by London’s Big Ben, the tower was installed alongside the station in 1898.

At the top of the hill, the Museu Castelo offers a panoramic view of the surrounding architectural ensemble. Completed in November 1897, the Victorian-style building is notable for its thirty-three windows, evoking the panopticon theory, as proposed by Michel Foucault—a design that suggests a sense of constant surveillance.

Ribeirão Pires and its surroundings form a true open-air museum, ideal for cinematic storytelling and production. Less than fifty kilometers from São Paulo’s capital, the region is easily accessible from major airports and highways, allowing for easy access and smooth transport of crew and equipment.