São Sebastião

House of 12 Windows in São Sebastião: an 18th-century Historic Center attraction, with 12 windows and stone masonry with shell lime; a heritage site and a must-photograph.

The Casa das Janelas — also called Casa das 12 Janelas — is one of the oldest and most peculiar buildings in the Historic Center of São Sebastião, and its nickname says everything about what sets it apart: in an 18th-century colonial village, where single-storey houses followed a sober, closed pattern facing the street, opening twelve windows was an act of exuberance and status that few could afford.

Architecture and Construction Technique
The building is a single-storey residence erected in stone masonry laid with mortar made from shell powder and sand — the same technique characteristic of the northern coast of São Paulo, where the absence of mineral lime was offset by grinding the abundant shells from the coast. The result is a mixture that hardens over time and resists maritime humidity very well — which explains the survival of so many of these constructions into the 21st century.

Highlight in the Historic Center
What makes the Casa das Janelas unique within the architectural ensemble of the Historic Center is precisely its breadth — a single-storey house that extends horizontally along the lot frontage with generous openings to the street, breaking the compact scale of the other colonial examples. This constructive characteristic places it among the oldest buildings in the center and makes it one of the most photographed heritage sites of the historic pavement.

Practical Information

Location: Historic Center of São Sebastião — listed nucleus

Period: 18th century

Technique: Stone masonry and shell lime

Listing: Historical heritage of the Historic Center of São Sebastião

Visiting: Exterior open — part of the walking route through the Historic Center

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