C₄₄H₂₄0₈, M_r = 680.7, tetragonal, P4₂/n (second setting), α = 13.1416 (16), c = 9.719 (3) Å, V = 1678.5 (4) ų, Z = 2, D_x = 1.347 Mg m^-3, Mo Kα, λ = 0.71069 Å, μ = 0.087 mm^-1, F(000) = 704, room temperature, R = 3.4% for 562 observed reflections, m.p. 588 K. The title compound was prepared by the cyclic condensation of four 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid molecules. The tetramer displays 4 molecular symmetry in accordance with its being in a special position on a crystallographic inversion tetrad. The four unique arylcarboxylate units are arranged up and down about the 4 axis. The central sixteen-membered ring is locked in a rigid conformation mainly by intramolecular short contacts involving the carboxylate groups.