Nossa Senhora Aparecida – Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida – one of the largest churches in the world and receives about 12 million visitors per year.

The greatest Center for Catholic Evangelization of Brazil is a mirror of popular international and national devotion to the Queen and Patroness of Brazil, Our Lady Conception of Aparecida – Nossa Senhora Aparecida.

In order to welcome approximately 12 million of pilgrims per year, the National Sanctuary provides its devotees with an area of more than 1.3 million square meters, with about 143 thousand square meters of built-up area.

Nossa Senhora Aparecida – The Cloak Ceremony

The Cloak Cerimony is a 40 to 50 minute celebration which takes place once a month, in the Chapel of the Apostles – a reserved chapel, and is monthly transmitted by Aparecida TV Channel every 12th day.

On this occasion, a Cloack is granted Blessings and afterwards it is cut into small pieces and given to the devotees participating in the Devotees Campaign. Nowadays, the Devotees Campaign is responsible for the continuation of the whole Sanctuary maintenance services and the social works.

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The way of the Faith

The Way of Faith is a touristic-religious pilgrimage, which takes as an example the Santiago of Compostela Way, in Spain. It was officially launched on February 11, 2003. The track connects the cities of Agua da Prata – SP and Aparecida – SP, on a 497km way. At present, The Way also consists of the cities of Tambaú – SP to Aparecida – SP.

Center for Pilgrim Support

Located in the National Sanctuary courtyard, the Center for Pilgrims Support was opened up on May 30, 1998 by the President of Federative Republic of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Projected to provide our visitors with convenience, cozy welcoming and leisure, it counts on a Food Plaza and 380

stores, besides the baby changing facilities, withdrawing machines, amusement parks etc. The infrastructure also counts on the Aparecida Aquarium. Located on the East Wing. The visitors may enjoy several tanks with sea species, fresh water fish and a pool with sharks.

Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora Aparecida in numbers

The specific area of Basilica of Aparecida consists of almost 72 thousand square meters and it includes:

the lower and the ground floors, the Arcade, the South Gallery, the Central Dome, The Chapels of Resurrection and Baptism, the Brasilia Tower.



Inside the Basilica, on the ground floor, remains the Niche of the Miraculous Image of the Patroness of Brazil, exhibited from a 37 meters high retable. On this 25 thousand square meters floor, Eucharistic Celebrations are held which gather up to 30 thousand people around the Central Altar; during the outdoor celebrations, the capacity is up to 300 thousand people.

The National Sanctuary Religious Touristic Complex houses other important sacred areas: Cruzeiro Hill, where millions of devotees perform the Way to the Cross, Itaguassu Harbor, where the Image of Our Lady – Nossa Senhora Aparecida Aparecida was found, in 1717 and the Mother Church or Old Basilica, historical religious monument under restoration, and a 7 thousand square meters Permanent Crib, where scenes of the main moments of Jesus’ Childhood are portrayed.

The magnificence of the biggest Marian Sanctuary worldwide is present in each of its structural details: the Brasilia Tower is 109 meters high, including the Cross; the Central Dome, is 70 meters high; the Church Naves, 40 meters each.

The Sumptuous Footbridge, which links the Sanctuary to the Mother Church, is 392.2 meters length, and its highest part is 35.52 meters high above the ground. Cable cars connect the Basilica to Cruzeiro Hill throughout 1.100 meters.

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Welcoming all pilgrims coming from worldwide is possible as the National Sanctuary holds the largest parking lot in Latin America with capacity to park more than 6 thousand vehicles and extension of 285.000 m2, as well as a heliport.

Yet, the Complex houses the Center for Pilgrims Support, with 380 stores, including a Food Plaza, 874 restrooms, from which 55 are adapted for the disabled ones and the Pilgrims’ City where the Queen of Brazil Hotel is located.

History of Nossa Senhora Aparecida – Our Lady of Aparecida

In the year of 1717, three fishermen, Domingos Garcia, Felipe Pedroso and João Alves, led by historical and economical needs, went out for fishing in shortage of fish times. Under the mysterious actions of God, as they reached Itaguassu Harbor, the first thing that had fell into their fishing net was an Image broken at the height of the neck.



As they cast the net into the sea a second time, they fish the head of the Image. By getting the two pieces together, they realized it was Our Lady of Conception. After they had found the Image, fishing had become abundant and the fishermen felt the presence and action of God in that very moment.

For having “appeared” in such a way, people called it “Aparecida”, a name sacred by popular devotion, also being named Queen (1904) and the Patroness of Brazil (1930). Her Sanctuary was declared “Nationwide” in 1984 by CNBB – Conference of National Bishops of Brazil.

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