Discover Aparecida

Aparecida brings together important pilgrimage sites, churches from different eras and other discoveries to enjoy during your holiday. The Santuário Nacional was built in 1955 in the Neoclassical style to house the image of Nossa Senhora Aparecida. Those interested in the history of the devotion can also explore places in Aparecida with various historical connections.

Churches and the history of pilgrimage

The Matriz Basílica was built in 1745 in the Baroque style and was the first church to house the image of Nossa Senhora Aparecida. The Santuário Nacional stands beside this older church as a separate, later-built structure. The contrast between the two buildings illustrates the different eras of sacred architecture in Aparecida, without requiring a single style to define the entire trip.

Porto Itaguaçu is also part of the image’s history: the name refers to the spot on the Rio Paraíba do Sul where it was found in 1717. At Morro do Cruzeiro, there is a pilgrimage site with sculptures depicting the Stations of the Cross. When choosing your excursions, you can therefore focus on different things, from churches to a riverside location or a Way of the Cross with sculptural depictions.

Connections and routes

The Passarela da Fé connects the Matriz Basílica with the Santuário Nacional. It is 389 metres long and 35 metres high; you can take these measurements into account when planning your day. The Teleférico provides another connection: it runs from the lower area, where the Santuário Nacional is located, to the upper area, where the Basílica Velha is located, and also in the opposite direction. This gives you two different ways to travel between these areas while visiting the city: the Passarela and the cable car.

The Caminho do Rosário is just over 1.5 kilometres long and completely flat. If you enjoy walking, you can include this route as a separate option in your travel plans. Aparecida’s Aquário offers a different experience: its tanks include freshwater and saltwater species, as well as a shark tank where visitors can touch the sharks. This gives families a specific reason to discover a very different side of the destination in addition to its religious sites.

Memorial sites and nature

Founded in 1910, the Memorial Redentorista e Padre Vítor Coelho houses a museum, the Capela Memorial Redentorista and a chapel dedicated to Padre Vítor Coelho. Another group of attractions awaits at the Memorial da Devoção Nossa Senhora Aparecida, a tourist complex associated with the Santuário Nacional. It includes the Cine Padroeira, a wax museum, the Cantinho dos Devotos Mirins area and exhibition rooms. Those looking to add variety to their trip will find museums and exhibitions alongside the churches.

Parque Três Pescadores adds a nature-focused option. Its bird sanctuary is home to endangered species of Brazilian wildlife. The park also offers an ecological tour led by specialist guides, exploring local biodiversity and highlighting the importance of environmental and nature conservation. Opened in July 2019, Trem do Devoto was established to make access to Porto do Itaguaçu easier for older people, children and people with reduced mobility.

Tailor your stay to your interests

When choosing a holiday apartment in Aparecida, it can help to first decide which experiences you want to shape your trip: pilgrimage history and churches, routes and connections, the Aquário, or nature at Parque Três Pescadores. If you plan to include several of these, you can treat each visit as a separate part of your stay and shape your trip around your interests.

There are more destinations to discover, too: Altinópolis, Queluz, Piedade, Colina, Torrinha, Juquitiba, Ourinhos and Jaú.

For the broader travel overview: São Paulo.