One of the oldest establishments of higher education in Brazil, and the oldest law school, the São Francisco Law School (in Portuguese: ” Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco “), as it is also known, was founded together with the Olinda Law School (later moved and renamed Recife Law School), by Brazilian regent Dom Pedro I on August 11, 1827, but its classes began earlier than Olinda’s. As it was founded a few years after the proclamation of the Independence of Brazil, it was essential for the administration of the Brazilian Empire, having formed most of those who would later be part of the Brazilian government.
Class
The school was first installed in a monastery building from the Franciscan order, which was later rebuilt many times, one of them after a fire. The most recent construction dates from 1934. A number of Brazilian politicians and famous writers have studied at Largo de São Francisco since its foundation, such as Castro Alves, Álvares de Azevedo, Fagundes Varela, Rui Barbosa, Monteiro Lobato.
There is a statue of Álvares de Azevedo in front of the building with this quote: “Foi poeta, sonhou e amou na vida”. In English: “He was a poet, dreamed and loved in life”.
Students come from all over the country to study at São Francisco and contribute with bohemian and cultural lifestyle to the Brazilian most cosmopolitan city of São Paulo.
There is a gravestone in its patio, where Julius Frank, a German professor dear to students, was buried in 1841. Because Frank was a Protestant, he could not be buried in any of the Catholic graveyards in São Paulo, so the students chose to bury him inside the school as homage.
Consistently ranked as the best Law School in Brazil, São Francisco Law School has been the alma mater to 12 Brazilian presidents and many outstanding public officers, diplomats, scholars, writers, politicians and businessmen.
Where: Largo São Francisco, s/n.
When: Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 8 pm.
Getting There: 7 min walking from Metro Station Sé ( Red or Blue Line)
Information from wikipedia
