One of the most controversial memorials in the world is located in São Paulo. It is situated in the south-central area of the city on the square of Armando Salles de Oliveira. Nearby, there is the entrance to Ibirapuera Park and the Palace July 9 where the seat of the local Legislative Assembly is located.

The Monument to the Bandeiras was erected in 1954 to commemorate the founding of São Paulo. Now we are going to make a small excursion into the history of the city during which we will learn about the idea of sculpture.

The Brazilian city of São Paulo appeared in the middle of the 16th century as a settlement of Jesuits from Europe. Over the next two-plus centuries, not only missionaries but also colonizers, or, in other words, Bandeirantes regularly arrived there. Among them were explorers, curious adventurers, soldiers, and mercenaries. Those people were mostly hunters for slave power – local Indians, but over time the appetites of the «standard-bearers» increased. They began to organize long-term expeditions deep into the jungle in search of mineral resources, precious metals, and stones. Then there was the myth of a lost city with countless riches hidden somewhere in Brazil. Simultaneously with the exploration of new territories, the Bandeirantes got engaged in the economic development of the captured lands, laying roads, and creating settlements, thereby strengthening the power and influence of the Portuguese.
The Jesuits were defenders of the Indians and actively condemned the colonizers for what they were doing. At the same time, priests went on expeditions with the Bandeirantes, celebrated mass for them, calmed their consciences, and absolved their sins. Sometimes the «standard-bearers» pretended to be missionaries in order to gain the confidence of the local people by trickery and then enslave them.
In general, it was a dark time for the indigenous population of South America and a light time for the Portuguese invaders. In any case, it was thanks to the Bandeirantes who actively explored and developed new lands that Brazil became one of the largest and most economically developed countries in the world.
The author of the monument was a Brazilian sculptor of Italian origin Victor Brecheret. This work caused a wide response both among the public and among the modernist creators with whom the master identified himself.

The monument is made out of granite and has an impressive size. It is 16 meters high and 50 meters wide. In addition to people, there is also an engraving of a map of Brazil with the main routes of the Bandeirantes.