Aparecida, Religious pilgrimage center in São Paulo, Brazil.
Aparecida is a municipality in São Paulo state that stretches along the southern bank of the Paraíba River, combining urban neighborhoods with green spaces. The town is dominated by a large basilica surrounded by landscaped squares, gardens and wide avenues.
In 1717, three fishermen discovered a statue of the Virgin in the river, which led to the building of a chapel and later the current town. The pilgrimage tradition grew over the centuries and continues to shape the life of the community today.
The town takes its name from the Virgin Mary and grew from a small fishing village into a place of devotion. On weekends and holidays, families from across the country come to light candles, pray together and walk in processions.
The town is easily accessible by car or bus, with the motorway from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo taking about two to three hours. Visitors seeking a quieter experience should consider weekdays, as the grounds become very busy on weekends and holidays.
The basilica can hold more than 45000 people at once and ranks among the largest Catholic churches in the world after Saint Peter's. The grounds also include a museum that documents the story of the statue found in the river and the growth of the pilgrimage.
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