Bom Jesus da Lapa, Religious pilgrimage center in Bahia, Brazil
Bom Jesus da Lapa is a municipality along the banks of the São Francisco River in Bahia state, roughly 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Salvador. The municipal territory covers over 4,000 square kilometers (1,500 square miles) and contains several caves that have been converted into religious sites.
A Portuguese explorer named Francisco Mendonça Mar discovered the cave system in 1693 and established a religious sanctuary there. Over the centuries, the settlement grew into a major pilgrimage center that now hosts one of the largest Catholic festivals in Brazil.
The town serves as a pilgrimage destination where believers from across Brazil come to walk in processions and pray inside the sacred caves. Many pilgrims follow a centuries-old tradition of bringing votive offerings that they leave in the underground chapels as they present their requests.
The town offers numerous lodgings and guesthouses that receive visitors throughout the year, with the main pilgrimage season running between August and September. Buses and other transport options connect the place regularly with larger cities in the region, making arrival easier even from distant areas.
Inside the caves, visitors notice rock formations that resemble altars, pulpits, and even vaults, which is why these spaces are used directly for religious ceremonies. Some chapels were set up without artificial construction, using the natural shape of the stones as liturgical elements.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
