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The history of the Cathedral of S�o Paulo goes back in time to 1589, when it was decided that a main church (the Matriz) would be built in the small village of S�o Paulo. This church, located on the site of the present cathedral, was only finished around 1616. S�o Paulo became seat of a diocese in 1745, and the old church was demolished and substituted by a new one, built in Baroque style, which was finished around 1764. This modest church would be the Cathedral of S�o Paulo until 1911, when it was demolished.
The present cathedral was built under Duarte Leopoldo e Silva, the first archbishop of S�o Paulo. The works began in 1913 on the site of the demolished colonial cathedral following the project of German architect Maximilian Emil Hehl, who designed a Neo-Gothic structure. Works proceeded slowly and the inauguration of the new Cathedral happened only in 1954, with the towers still unfinished, but in time for the celebration of S�o Paulo's Fourth Centenary. The towers would only be completed in 1967.
After a long period of decay, the Cathedral underwent a complete renovation between 2000 and 2002. Apart from repairing the building, many pinnacles over the nave and towers were completed. The original 1912 construction plans were found inside the building, allowing for a faithful restoration.
The crypt, located below the main altar, is very large and can be considered a subterranean church in its own right. It is decorated with marble sculptures by Francisco Leopoldo e Silva depicting the history of Job and St Jerome.
The crypt has the tombs of all bishops and archbishops of S�o Paulo. Of special note are the bronze tombs of two important historical figures: father Diogo Feij� and the cacique Tibiri��. Feij� was regent of Brazil during the infancy of Emperor Pedro II. Tibiri�� was the cacique (chieftain) of the Guaianaz tribe who, in the 16th century, welcomed the first Jesuits to the Piratininga Plateau and whose aid made the foundation of S�o Paulo possible.
The Cathedral is the largest church in S�o Paulo: 111 metres long, 46 metres wide, with the two flanking towers reaching a height of 92 metres. The Cathedral is a Latin cross church with a five-aisled nave and a dome that reaches 30 metres over the crossing. Although the building in general is Neo-Gothic, the dome is inspired by the Renaissance dome of the Cathedral of Florence. It is located in the Pra�a da S�, or "Cathedral Square".