Latin America Memorial

The Latin America Memorial is a cultural, political and leisure complex, inaugurated in 1989, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The architectural setting, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, is a monument to the cultural, political, social and economic integration of Latin America, spanning an area of 84,482 square meters. Its cultural project was developed by Brazilian anthropologist Darcy Ribeiro. It is a public foundation, financially and administratively autonomous, maintained by the state government.

The architectural complex consists of several buildings arranged around two squares. It comprises: Salao de Atos Tiradentes , the Victor Civita Latin American Library, the Brazilian Center of Latin American Studies, the Marta Traba Gallery of Latin American Art, the Pavilhao da Criatividade , the Símon Bolívar Auditorium, and the Latin American Parliament building. In the main square (Praca Civica), there is a large concrete sculpture, also designed by Oscar Niemeyer, representing an open hand in vertical position, with the map of Latin America painted in red. It’s a symbol of Latin America’s past of oppression and its battles for freedom, with the red map as a reminder of the blood from the sacrifices that were made.