By Sueli Loiola
The area of Consolação was founded when followers of Our lady of Consolation (Nossa Senhora da Consolação) erected a chapel dedicated to Mary in 1779. At that time, the region was only a small plantation with vegetables, tea and fruits. Nowadays this is modern Consolação street. In 1799, everything changed when the chapel became a church and the place started to develop. This was particularly favourable as the region was away from any city. On local maps in 1834 show the terrain was not friendly - quite the contrary - near the church there was swamplands and it encouraged the government plan improvements for the region.
The followers of Our Lady created a group of women to help people with illness and disease in the area. The ladies became quite famous , receiving support from the Baron of Tiete who provided building to help people with leprosy. Other people still came at Consolação, with other curable and incurable diseases (such as cholera) and many of them are buried within the proximity of the church. As a result, the government of Portugal told the Bishop of the church to construct a cemetery. It was decided it would be located away from the city, in current day Alto da Consolação. The construction of the cemetery began in 1854 and was opened on July, 3th 1858.
After some years, the cemetery had became a landmark in its own right due to the traditional families and important artists buried there. Also, we can see sculptures from Victor Brechert and other artistic objects & creations.
Avenues and streets
Streets and avenues were built in 1965 and concluded in 1968. In 1972, a space for local stores between Paulista avenue and D. Antonia de Queiroz street was developed. This included a cinema, restaurants, bars and local residential plots. Currently, in Consolação neighborhood, Augusta street and Angélica avenue there are banks, stores, great number of hotels, restaurants, postgraduates center, a presbiterian university and the region has a system of subways. Consolação street has access to other neighborhood such as Jardins, Itaim, etc.
This is the interesting history behind one of the biggest and most important avenues in Sao Paulo. This is Sao Paulo: built by people, built by you.
The area of Consolação was founded when followers of Our lady of Consolation (Nossa Senhora da Consolação) erected a chapel dedicated to Mary in 1779. At that time, the region was only a small plantation with vegetables, tea and fruits. Nowadays this is modern Consolação street. In 1799, everything changed when the chapel became a church and the place started to develop. This was particularly favourable as the region was away from any city. On local maps in 1834 show the terrain was not friendly - quite the contrary - near the church there was swamplands and it encouraged the government plan improvements for the region.
The followers of Our Lady created a group of women to help people with illness and disease in the area. The ladies became quite famous , receiving support from the Baron of Tiete who provided building to help people with leprosy. Other people still came at Consolação, with other curable and incurable diseases (such as cholera) and many of them are buried within the proximity of the church. As a result, the government of Portugal told the Bishop of the church to construct a cemetery. It was decided it would be located away from the city, in current day Alto da Consolação. The construction of the cemetery began in 1854 and was opened on July, 3th 1858.
After some years, the cemetery had became a landmark in its own right due to the traditional families and important artists buried there. Also, we can see sculptures from Victor Brechert and other artistic objects & creations.
Avenues and streets
Streets and avenues were built in 1965 and concluded in 1968. In 1972, a space for local stores between Paulista avenue and D. Antonia de Queiroz street was developed. This included a cinema, restaurants, bars and local residential plots. Currently, in Consolação neighborhood, Augusta street and Angélica avenue there are banks, stores, great number of hotels, restaurants, postgraduates center, a presbiterian university and the region has a system of subways. Consolação street has access to other neighborhood such as Jardins, Itaim, etc.
This is the interesting history behind one of the biggest and most important avenues in Sao Paulo. This is Sao Paulo: built by people, built by you.