Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida

Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil

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The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida (Basílica do Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida) is the spiritual heart of Brazil and one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Located in the city of Aparecida, São Paulo, this monumental basilica is dedicated to Our Lady Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil, whose small clay statue was miraculously discovered by fishermen in the Paraíba River in 1717.

The current basilica, begun in 1955 and consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980, is the second-largest Catholic church in the world by interior area, surpassed only by St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Its Romanesque Revival architecture features a massive central dome, soaring arches, and a cross-shaped floor plan that can accommodate up to 45,000 worshippers.

The basilica complex spans over 1.3 million square meters and includes a shopping center, a youth center, and a cable car that connects to the Hill of the Cruzeiro. At the heart of the sanctuary is the revered statue of Our Lady Aparecida, enshrined in a golden niche and adorned with a richly embroidered blue robe and imperial crown.

The basilica draws over 12 million pilgrims annually, especially on October 12th, Brazil’s national holiday in her honor.