Aparecida
Situation and Characteristics
The pilgrimage center of Aparecida, where Nossa Senhora Aparecida, patroness of Brazil, is venerated, lies in the Paraíba valley, 173km/107mi north-east of São Paulo and 260km/162mi south-west of Rio de Janeiro. It is reached by way of the
Presidente Dutra Motorway (BR 116).
The town was founded in 1717, when native fishermen from the Rio Paraíba recovered from the sea a small black figure of the Virgin which is credited with wonderworking powers. Aparecida is now the most important pilgrimage center in Brazil.