São Paulo Cathedral

Welcome to the Catedral Metropolitana de Nossa Senhora da Assunção e São Paulo, known simply as the Catedral da Sé (Kay-tay-drawl da Say). You are standing at the absolute center of São Paulo—literally. …

Look up at the towers. The pointed arches, the delicate tracery, and the verticality are all hallmarks of the Neo-Gothic style, which sought to revive the spiritual grandeur of the Middle Ages. …

Step through the heavy doors and feel the immediate drop in temperature and volume. The interior of the Sé Cathedral is a vast, echoing space that can hold up to 8,000 people. …

One of the cathedral's best-kept secrets is the vast crypt located directly beneath the main altar. This subterranean chapel is almost as large as a small church itself and is the final resting place for all the archbishops of…

As you walk back through the nave, pay close attention to the capitals of the massive columns. In traditional Gothic cathedrals, these would feature European saints or leaves like oak and ivy. …

The story of the cathedral is one of immense patience. Construction began in 1913, led by the archbishop Duarte Leopoldo e Silva. …

Step back out into the light of Praça da Sé. Just a few meters from the cathedral's front steps, look for the 'Marco Zero' (Mar-ko Zeh-ro). …

As we conclude our visit to the São Paulo Cathedral, I hope you carry with you a sense of the immense history and spiritual gravity of this place. You have seen the heights of its Neo-Gothic towers, the light of its masterfully…