Praça da Matriz in Cândido Mota — Live Webcam

The live webcam broadcasts a view of Praça da Matriz in the city of Cândido Mota, São Paulo state, Brazil. This is the central square of the municipality, home to the Igreja Matriz de São José — the city's main church and the starting point of its history. The camera is positioned so that the frame captures a concrete pathway with white curbs, lined with palm trees, and the green lawn surrounding the historic building.

History of Cândido Mota: from the railway to the municipality

Cândido Mota is a typical representative of the interior regions of São Paulo state, whose history is inextricably linked to the settlement of lands in the late 19th century. Colonel Valêncio Carneiro de Castro, authorized by the state government to colonize the territories of the Paulista Colonization Company, arrived in the region in the late 1890s. He purchased the Macucu (or Jacutinga) farm, and it was from this moment that the systematic settlement of these lands began.

In 1913, Colonel Valêncio donated a plot of land for the construction of a church, and around this place a settlement began to form. Already on October 27, 1914, the first railway station was opened, which gave a powerful impetus to the development of the settlement. The church dedicated to Saint Joseph became not only a religious but also a geographic center of the future city.

The status of a district (distrito) of Cândido Mota was obtained on December 24, 1921, by state law No. 1831, becoming part of the municipality of Assis. Later, in 1924, an independent municipality was formed. Today it is a city with a population of about 30,000 people, located at an altitude of 479 meters above sea level at coordinates 22°44'47" S and 50°23'13" W.

Praça da Matriz — the heart of the city

Praça da Matriz is the main square of Cândido Mota, a space where history, religion, and the daily life of local residents intersect. It is here, according to historical chronicles, that the city was born: around the land donated by the colonel for the church, a settlement began to form.

Today, the square is a well-maintained public space with green lawns, concrete walkways, and palm trees visible in the webcam frame. White curbs frame the pedestrian paths leading to a building with light-colored walls and metal gates. This place serves not only as a transit zone but also as a gathering point for citizens — people meet here, celebrate holidays, and simply relax in the shade of the trees.

The online camera installed in the square allows you to observe how the life of the city changes throughout the day: in the morning, local residents stroll here, during the day the square fills with children, and in the evening the streetlights illuminate the facade of the Igreja Matriz.

Igreja Matriz de São José: architecture and significance

The Igreja Matriz de São José is the main church of Cândido Mota and the spiritual center of the city's Catholic community. It was around this church, donated by Colonel Valêncio in 1913, that the settlement began to form, which is why it holds special significance for local residents.

The architecture of the church reflects the typical features of religious buildings in the interior regions of São Paulo state in the early 20th century — light-colored walls, laconic forms, and functional layout. The metal gates visible in the webcam broadcast lead to the entrance of the church, which remains an active parish.

Saint Joseph, in whose honor the church is consecrated, is considered the patron of the family and workers in the Catholic tradition. For the residents of Cândido Mota, whose roots are often connected with agriculture and the railway business, this dedication has a special meaning — Saint Joseph embodies humble labor and family values.

Events and traditions

Praça da Matriz is not only a historical but also a cultural space of Cândido Mota. The main city events are held here, from religious holidays to secular festivals.

One of the most significant events in the region is the Rodeio Cândido Mota — one of the most famous rodeos in the area. Four days of horse racing, shows, nightclubs, amusement parks, food courts, and exhibitions turn the city into a center of attraction for guests from all over the state.

Regularly, holidays are held on the square itself, including the Children's Day Festival with bouncy castles (pula-pula), inflatable rides, and popcorn distribution. Such events bring families from all over the city and turn the square into a noisy and joyful place.

Religious holidays associated with the cult of Saint Joseph are also celebrated here — processions, masses, and communal meals unite the Catholic community of Cândido Mota.

What you can see on the camera

The live webcam broadcasts a view of Praça da Matriz in Cândido Mota. In the frame is a concrete pathway with characteristic cracks, framed by white curbs, leading to a building with light-colored walls and metal gates. On both sides of the pathway grow palm trees, typical of the São Paulo state landscape.

The green lawn surrounds the pedestrian zone, creating the feeling of a well-maintained urban park. In the background, a road with cars, residential houses, and trees are visible — this is the everyday landscape of a small Brazilian city where history coexists with modernity.

The online broadcast allows you to observe the movement in the square: pedestrians, cars, the change of day and night. The webcam operates in real time, so the viewer sees what is happening on the square right now — whether it is a morning walk of local residents or the evening illumination of the church facade.