Chácara da Baronesa State Park

Chácara da Baronesa State Park, officially designated as the Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Haras São Bernardo, is a state-protected environmental area and historical site located in Santo André, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is listed as a historical site by CONDEPHAAT, the state's heritage preservation council. The area covers approximately 34.09 hectares within the Alto Tietê river basin and lies within the Atlantic Forest biome. Its history dates to the 1940s, when the site between São Bernardo do Campo and Santo André was occupied by the Chácara dos Crespi, a rural property of about 350,000 square meters owned by Italian immigrants Count and Countess Crespi. After the owners' deaths, the property was purchased by Belgian Baron Von Leittner and his wife, becoming known as Chácara da Baronesa, or Haras São Bernardo. During that phase it was one of the best horse-breeding farms in the state, producing several national turf champions. The park's creation aims to maintain its characteristics within a heavily urbanized region. Although the Atlantic Forest vegetation was almost entirely removed during the horse farm era, native vegetation has been regenerating forest cover across the area, amid exotic tree species such as eucalyptus, pine, and alfeneiro, attracting associated birdlife. The park is managed by the São Paulo state government through its environmental protection agency. It offers public visitation free of charge on weekdays from 8:00 to 17:00, with infrastructure including restrooms, a playground, a multi-sport court, and a historical/cultural monument. Prior scheduling is not required, and partial accessibility is available.

The history of Chácara da Baronesa State Park begins in the 1940s, when the site located between São Bernardo do Campo and Santo André was established as the Chácara dos Crespi, a rural property of approximately 350,000 square meters owned by Italian immigrants Count and Countess Crespi. After the deaths of the owners, the property was purchased by Belgian Baron Von Leittner and his wife. It then became known as Chácara da Baronesa, or Haras São Bernardo. During this phase, the location experienced its heyday, becoming one of the best horse-breeding farms in the state for the reproduction and raising of racehorses, supplying several national turf champions. The vegetation in the Atlantic Forest domain was almost entirely removed during the horse farm era. Over time, native vegetation has regenerated forest cover throughout the area, amid exotic tree species such as eucalyptus, pine, and alfeneiro, bringing associated birdlife. The area was later designated as a state-protected environmental area, the Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Haras São Bernardo, with the objective of maintaining its characteristics in an intensely urbanized region. It is also listed as a historical site by CONDEPHAAT in the city of Santo André. The park covers 34.09 hectares within the Alto Tietê river basin and is managed by the São Paulo state government. It offers public visitation free of charge on weekdays from 8:00 to 17:00, with infrastructure including restrooms, a playground, a multi-sport court, and a historical/cultural monument. Prior scheduling is not required, and partial accessibility is available.

• Chácara dos Crespi established as a rural property of about 350,000 m² owned by Count and Countess Crespi.

• Property purchased by Belgian Baron Von Leittner and his wife, becoming known as Chácara da Baronesa or Haras São Bernardo.

• Haras São Bernardo becomes one of the best horse-breeding farms in the state, supplying national turf champions.

• Area designated as Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Haras São Bernardo.

• Listed as a historical site by CONDEPHAAT in Santo André.

State-protected environmental area and historical heritage site focused on preserving the former horse-breeding estate's characteristics within an urbanized region.

1. 1Guia de Áreas Protegidasguiadeareasprotegidas.sp.gov.br
2. 2Chácara da Baronesa State Park - Wikidatawikidata.org