Estadual Alberto Löfgren State Park or also known as Horto Florestal is located at north of Sao
Paulo, some eleven miles from the city. It occupies an area of 174 hectares at the foot of the
Serra da Cantareira. More specifically the end of the Rua do Horto within Cantareira State Park,
in the neighborhood of Tremembé.
The Horto Florestal includes various areas such as the picnic area, playground, jogging track,
trails, mineral springs, fitness equipment, two lakes with islands formed by tree roots, and
Forestry Museum. You can also find the Summer Palace of the State Government, public residence
which houses the current governor.
Also it has one of the largest display collections of wood in all Latin America, housed in
the Forestry Museum Otavio Vecchi. The museum is associated with the Forest Institute of Sao
Paulo, which coordinates all the conservation efforts within Sao Paulo state. The Institute is
a place where researchers and students can come to learn and conduct studies concerning
biological sciences, especially focusing on medicinal plants and the health of fruit trees in
Northeastern Brazil.
Also you can see many animals such as: turtles, herons, monkeys, ducks, capybaras, geese, wild
birds and other wildlife. It offers to the visitors a direct contact with nature, and its diversity
of flora and fauna. And people can take a dip in the lake on a hot day.
History
Horto Florestal is one of the largest parks in Sao Paulo, and is certainly one of the most
visited by tourists and locals alike. It was created by Decree 335 of February 10, 1896 by the
Swedish botanist Geographic and Geological Commission of the State, Alberto Löfgren. For this
reason, the park takes his name.
Horto Florestal, Sao Paulo City
With the aim to promote culture diversity in the State of Sao Paulo, since 1903, the Company
Paulista Caminos de Hierro y del Rio, they began to acquire land along the railways.
In 1904, Edmundo Navarro de Andrade performed the first experiments to determine a forestry
substance capable of supplying wood and fuelwood to meet the needs of the railway. After 6
years, he concluded that it was eucalyptus, which is why he decided to plant this tree on a
large scale. That's why the Paulista Company acquired more land to expand the cultivation of
eucalyptus.
In 1909 the company purchased a property of 1403 hectares. Then in 1910 other was a bit smaller,
but by mid-1916, the old company acquired the largest of all territories it had: 1754 hectares.
Today, the garden displays more than 60 living species of eucalyptus, and has 2222 hectares of
land of 3158 hectares initials, because they had to sell pieces of land.
The Forestry Museum was opened in 1931, it is known internationally for having the largest
collection of wood in Latin America.
In 1977, the Horto Florestal was taken into account by COMDEPHAAT, given its potential and
historical development of forestry in Brazil.
You can enjoy the incredible natural beauty of Horto Floresta, and you can hiking or bike
trails, and you can learn about the important plant studies being carried out there, all at
the same time.