Igreja Nossa Senhora da Consolação, Gothic Revival church in Consolação, Brazil

Nossa Senhora da Consolação is a church with a Latin-cross plan, designed by German engineer Maximilian Emil Hehl and built from 1909 to 1959. Its single 75-meter tower holds bells blessed in 2012, and the facade has Romanesque columns, arches and a rose window of beaten wrought iron. Inside, a dome 20 meters wide covers the transept, and the main altar of oak, white marble and bronze was made by the French firm Maison Forest.

A modest temple founded in 1799 originally served the growing population in the center of São Paulo. In the early 1900s, plans emerged to build a larger and more architecturally ambitious church, with construction beginning in 1909.

The carved wooden image of Our Lady of Consolation, of unknown origin, was left at the chapel by an Augustinian priest traveling to Sorocaba; it is now in the Museum of Sacred Art. The Brotherhood of Our Lady of Consolation, founded in 1855, sheltered cholera victims in 30 improvised beds in the church courtyard. In 1924 the church housed and fed over 500 people during the bombings of the Revolution.

The church sits on Rua da Consolação and is relatively easy to reach, though the street is busy and parking can be hard to find. It's best to check opening hours before visiting, as regular masses and pastoral schedules may affect access for visitors.

The facade displays characteristic Gothic elements that are uncommon for São Paulo, setting the church apart from other buildings in the area. This architectural choice made it a visual landmark that stands out distinctly from the surrounding modern urban landscape.