Aparecida Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/aparecida/ Blog of a Traveling Coffee Addict Sun, 04 Feb 2024 16:09:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://i0.wp.com/caffeinatedexcursions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wp-1555570621336.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Aparecida Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/aparecida/ 32 32 141833777 The Comprehensive Guide To Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/the-comprehensive-guide-to-aparecida-sao-paulo-brazil/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/the-comprehensive-guide-to-aparecida-sao-paulo-brazil/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2020 03:00:00 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=11812 Have you ever visited a city or town where religious traditions are a major part of the local identity and culture? The question might evoke thoughts of historic cities in the Middle East or monasteries in Southeast Asia. But in this post, I’ll be introducing you to an incredible religious town for your next visit to Brazil...

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The Comprehensive Guide To Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil

Published July 27, 2020

Have you ever visited a city or town where religious traditions are a major part of the local identity and culture? The question might evoke thoughts of historic cities in the Middle East, monasteries in Southeast Asia, or even a place like Salt Lake City in Utah. But in this post, I’ll be introducing you to an incredible religious town that you won’t want to miss on your next visit to Brazil: Aparecida in the state of São Paulo!

Aparecida’s focal point is the Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida). This church is not only a gorgeous and stunning piece of modern architecture, but it also holds the title of second largest church in the world.

Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida

The church is certainly worth spending a full afternoon exploring, and I’ve written another blog post (click or tap here) all about it. In this post, I’ll be focusing on some of the other interesting things to see and do in Aparecida.

The Largest Church in the Western Hemisphere

Aparecida is a small town, so the main attraction is undoubtedly the Santuário Nacional. Its brick exterior may not look very flashy, but the inside is a burst of color with an unexpectedly modern design.

If you want to see what I’m talking about, use the link below to open up that blog post!

The Town's Vibe

After you’ve seen the Basilica, you’ll definitely want to check out the rest of Aparecida on foot. There are only a handful of main streets, so it won’t take long to figure out that layout of town. The main plaza (located here) is on the top of a hill, so there are a lot of streets nearby that offer good views of the surrounding mountains.

You also won’t want to miss the Passarela da Fé, a pedestrian overpass that connects the cathedral to the main street in town (Rua Monte Carmelo). It offers an especially nice panoramic view of the mountains to the northwest. I took the two images below while walking on the Passarela.

Passarela da Fé

Aparecida probably counts as a hidden gem in terms of international travel, but it’s understandably a favorite destination among locals. Therefore, the town has its fair share of tourist infrastructure, including a large number of hotels and souvenir shops along the main strip. However, it’s not overly commercialized and still has a distinct small-town vibe.

Other Points of Interest

This section will feature some other things to visit in Aparecida, including two smaller churches, a hike if you’re feeling adventurous, a cable car ride, and an observatory. Unfortunately, the final two attractions were closed during my visit because of COVID-19.

Two Smaller Churches

In addition to the main Basilica, Aparecida also has two other churches worth checking out. Both are located in the town center and easy to walk to.

Igreja de São Benedito

This church is located on the north corner of town in front of the Praça Dr. Benedito Mereilles. It’s relatively small, but the white and blue color scheme reminds me a bit of Greece and Santorini.

Basílica Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida (Basílica Velha)

This is actually the original Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida. It was built to commemorate a statue of the Virgin Mary which was, according to legend, fished out of the nearby Paraíba River by some fishermen in the early 1700s. This statue attracted religious visitors for decades to come, and this yellow cathedral was built as a place where they could see it. (The newer Basilica was built between 1955 and 1980, and the statue is currently on display there.)

This church may not look like much compared to its newer rendition that sits on the world records list, but the inside is nonetheless stunning and boasts a beautiful colonial style which is totally different from the interior of the Santuário Nacional. Just like the blue and white Igreja de São Benedito, the Basílica Velha has a cohesive color scheme both inside and out.

An Adventurous Hike

Over the years, the distinctive statue of the Virgin Mary mentioned above became a cultural icon of Aparecida. You will likely see it dozens or hundreds of times in just a few days: on signs, lampposts, bumper stickers, restaurant menus, advertisements, storefronts, and more. Perhaps the most prevalent place you’ll notice the statue is on the top of a hill overlooking the town.

When I saw it, I knew I wanted to try and hike up to it, but figuring out how to do it was a little bit of an adventure. If you use Google Maps, the app will likely direct you to use this trail here. I initially tried that, but when I reached the trail head (shown below), it just looked a little too overgrown and isolated to go that way by myself.

I turned back and decided to try my luck by going to the end of this street, where some local residents directed me towards the beginning of a much shorter dirt path that also ended at the statue (which is not shown on Google Maps default view as of July 2020). This still felt a tiny bit sketch, but it’s definitely the way I’d recommend going. I don’t think that this little hike would be ‘dangerous’ per se either way, but I’d still recommend keeping your wits about you especially if you’re alone. If you can go as a group, I’d suggest that.

From the top, you’ll be able to see the Santa Nossa Senhora Aparecida up close. She overlooks a stunning panoramic view of the town below, including of the Basilica. Compare its size to the hotels around while you’re here; from the ground, it can be hard to comprehend just how big this structure really is!

The Cable Car (Bontur Bondinhos Aéreos)

The last major attraction in Aparecida is the cable car, which connects the Santuário Nacional terminal to Morro do Cruzeiro, a hill with a cross-shaped observation tower directly east of the town. Unfortunately, both the observatory and the cable car were closed when I visited Aparecida because of COVID-19. I’m sure both attractions offer some stunning views of the town. If you visit Aparecida and have the time to ride the cable car, leave a comment below and let me know how it is!

Morro do Cruzeiro

A Very Brief Food Section

Since I visited Aparecida during July of 2020, certain things in town were closed due to the pandemic. This included most restaurants, and the few that were open only offered takeout and delivery. Luckily, my Airbnb host arranged a daily lunch provided by Cavs Restaurante e Doceria, which was always pretty good. They also changed their menu every day, so I got a good variety of dishes. And best of all, each meal was only 14 BRL so it was very economical!

For dinner, I would usually cook at home, but if I was feeling lazy or running out of food, I would run over to Pizzaria Aldebarã. They also had pretty good prices and I liked that they made thin-crust pizza; normally pizza in Brazil is thick crust.

Where I Stayed

Airbnb is usually my go-to for long-term rental (I stayed for three weeks). In Aparecida, I really lucked out with a two-bedroom full-kitchen place all to myself for frankly phenomenal price. Even the decor inside matched the overall theme of the town!

Unique Gifts From Aparecida

Last but not least: souvenirs! Most towns in Brazil offer pretty standard souvenirs: postcards, tee shirts, magnets. In contrast, every gift shop in Aparecida sells mini figurines of Our Lady of Aparecida. These make some unique gifts, so I’d recommend doing some shopping here.

Quality and price vary greatly, and it seemed like in general you get what you pay for. You can also buy this iconic image in almost any form imaginable: keychains, magnets, pins, larger statues, small glass paperweights, and the list goes on and on. The Basilica has a gift shop, but prices there are definitely inflated. You’ll find much better deals in the little family-owned gift shops all over town.

Closing Tips & Thoughts

Aparecida may not have the scale or grandeur of São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, but if you’re traveling between the two largest cities in Brazil and need a place to stop for a few days along the way, Aparecida is a great option. You’ll get to see a little corner of this massive country that few foreigners even know exist, and it’s surprisingly accessible from both cities (a 170 km drive from SP and a 260 km drive from RJ).

There’s enough to see and do in Aparecida that I’d recommend staying two or three nights. A day trip from São Paulo is possible, but you’ll probably only have enough time to see the Basilica and do a quick walk-through of the town unless you arrive really early in the morning.

Since I stayed for three weeks, I can confirm that it’s a fine enough place for digital nomads to settle down for a bit longer, but these attractions would probably stretch out to about a week even with the most leisurely pace. I spent a fair amount of my time there relaxing and working, so this was no issue for me.

Have I convinced you to at least consider Aparecida for your upcoming trip to Brazil? Let me know in the comments below! It really is a quaint little town that I highly recommend!

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Check out this post to learn all about Aparecida! This town is home to the second largest church in the world, but this post will focus on some other fun things to do during a visit! #aparecida #aparecidasp #aparecidabrasil #aparecidabrazil #aparecidasaopaulo #aparecidasaopaulobrasil #aparecidasaopaulobrazil #catedralbasílicadenossasenhoraaparecida #nossasenhoraaparecida #aparecidadonorte #visitsaopaulo #estadodesaopaulo #basilicaofthenationalshrineofourladyofaparecida #ourladyofaparecida Check out this post to learn all about Aparecida! This town is home to the second largest church in the world, but this post will focus on some other fun things to do during a visit! #aparecida #aparecidasp #aparecidabrasil #aparecidabrazil #aparecidasaopaulo #aparecidasaopaulobrasil #aparecidasaopaulobrazil #catedralbasílicadenossasenhoraaparecida #nossasenhoraaparecida #aparecidadonorte #visitsaopaulo #estadodesaopaulo #basilicaofthenationalshrineofourladyofaparecida #ourladyofaparecida

This post was published on July 27, 2020

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

The post The Comprehensive Guide To Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

]]> https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/the-comprehensive-guide-to-aparecida-sao-paulo-brazil/feed/ 13 11812 How To Visit The World’s Second Largest Church In Aparecida, Brazil https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/how-to-visit-the-worlds-second-largest-church-in-aparecida-brazil/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/how-to-visit-the-worlds-second-largest-church-in-aparecida-brazil/#comments Sat, 25 Jul 2020 03:00:00 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=11807 Most travelers probably know that the world’s largest church is St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, but did you know that the second largest isn’t even in Europe at all? Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida in São Paulo, Brazil is truly awe-inspiring...

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How To Visit The World’s Second Largest Church In Aparecida, Brazil

Published July 25, 2020

Most travelers probably know that the world’s largest church is St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, but did you know that the second largest isn’t even in Europe at all? On the contrary, it can be found in a tiny town about 170 km northeast of São Paulo, Brazil! Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida) is a truly awe-inspiring structure not only for its size (it can seat 30,000 people), but also for its uniquely modern architecture.

Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida

In fact, this gargantuan cathedral isn’t hundreds of years old. It was actually completed in 1980, and the architects clearly wanted to combine traditional building elements with more innovative artwork and interior designs.

This post will feature a bit of background information, followed by a review of the interior of the Santuário Nacional as well as a number of attractions around it. Scroll down further to see some additional tips. For information about other things to do in the town of Aparecida, check out this separate post! Despite being small, Aparecida is a unique town worth visiting for a few days if you can.

A Bit of History

So why might this small town that has almost no name recognition outside of Brazil be home to a church big enough to be on the world record list? It all dates back to a small statue of the Virgin Mary that was reportedly found by fishermen hundreds of years ago. In fact, the name of the town (Aparecida) literally means “Appeared,” referring to the statue being discovered.

A large version of the statue that was originally found by the fishermen

That particular statue, with its distinctive regal shawl, gold crown, and dark skin is a cultural icon of the town and can be seen everywhere. Seriously, if you spend just two days in Aparecida, you’ll probably see Our Lady of Aparecida hundreds of times, on business advertisements, on bumper stickers, in gift shops, lit up on street lamps, etc. The town of Aparecida, the Basilica inspired by what many would say is a divine discovery, and the religious history of the region combine to form a fascinating and unique experience unlike anywhere else I’ve been before.

The Interior of the Cathedral

The church’s basic design consists of a huge central altar area with four different seating sections extending perpendicularly from it. This more or less forms a square cross floor plan, although additional smaller enclaves are nestled between each main section for more people to sit in. The center of the sanctuary and the massive dome is undoubtedly my favorite part of the church.

As you can see, this church is not pretending to be centuries old. Everything about it, from the bright colors and modern artwork to its glossy tiles suggests that the Basilica is a modern wonder of architecture. The extensive use of brick on both its interior and exterior helps to emphasize this as well while also contributing to its unique blue and orange color scheme.

Patterns and Tiles

Be sure to take a couple moments to appreciate the beautiful tiles that can be found throughout the sanctuary. Much of the artwork here is inspired by nature: bird, plant, star, sun, wave, and even frog motifs adorn the towering walls of the church. This beautifully balanced combination of natural elements and geometric patterns might be a reference to the Garden of Eden.

The Seating Areas

Although the four areas where the congregation would sit are made mostly of brick, all of them boast a giant arched stained glass window that changes its shade of blue depending on where the sun is in the sky. That’s another amazing thing about the Basilica: a striking amount of natural light illuminates the sanctuary at all times of day. Sunlight passing through these windows bathes entire portions of the church in a sapphire glow, giving the whole place a very relaxing vibe.

Smaller Chapels

The cathedral’s interior also has a couple of smaller, sequestered areas that may or may not be open depending on which day you visit.

Devotional Area

I visited the Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida about half a dozen times during my stay in Aparecida, and this little area located on the church’s northeast corner wasn’t open every time I went. When I saw it for the first time, I loved the low lighting and all the candles along the wall. Be sure to check it out if you can!

Things to See Around The Church

At this point, you’ve only seen half of what the Santuário Nacional has to offer. Its massive grounds have a number of other interesting attractions you won’t want to miss!

The actual cathedral building

As you can probably already tell, the exterior of the church is also a sight to behold. You could easily spend half an hour walking around it and admiring it from all angles. Although its exterior is much more traditional from an architectural perspective than the art and decor inside, the sheer size and scale of the structure is one reason you’ll want to see it from as many vantage points as possible.

The bell tower

Unlike most churches, the Basilica’s bells aren’t hidden in the upper reaches of any steeple or dome. Instead, the standalone bell tower is located on the very corner of the church lot closest to town.

The pedestrian bridge into town
(Passarela da Fé)

A long elevated pathway connects the Santuário Nacional to the town center. This is not the main entrance to the Basilica, but it is one quick and easy option if your hotel or accommodation is located near the entrance in town. The point where the path connects to the church can be found right here.

Although this passarela is probably the quickest way to walk from the cathedral into town or vice versa, I don’t think it’s open at night. However, the town of Aparecida is pretty easy to navigate because it’s so compact.

This walkway also offers pretty incredible views of the town, as well as the surrounding mountains and countryside.

Morro do Presépio

A picturesque little garden on a hill complete with a collection of statues, a waterfall, and a pond can be found behind the Santuário Nacional. This is also a great place to take photos of the church, especially during the early evening when softer natural light helps illuminate the church’s western-facing side.

The gift shop

The cathedral also has a gift shop, and although it’s worth browsing, there are dozens of other souvenir shops in town that will probably offer better deals. I talk a bit about gifts in my post about Aparecida, which you can read here.

The clock tower and museum

Unfortunately the observatory at the top of the church’s massive clock tower was closed due to COVID-19, but I’d love to come back someday post-pandemic and see what can only be a stunning perspective of the church’s dome and rooftop.

Bontur Bondinhos Aéreos

Last but not least, Aparecida is home to a cable car. This was also closed due to the pandemic, but if it’s open during your visit, check it out and let me know how the views are from it!

This cable car connects the Basilica to Morro do Cruzeiro, a hill overlooking the town which is home to another observatory shown in the picture below.

Tips & FAQs

There is no entrance fee.

I was never charged to enter the cathedral or the grounds. Unless there’s a special event or something else going on, the Santuário Nacional should be free to visit. However, I would expect to pay a fee to ride the cable car.

How to Arrive (on Foot)

The main pedestrian entrance is located here, although there are other ways to get in and out (including the passarela mentioned above). This main entrance is also pretty close to the town center, which is northeast of the Santuário Nacional.

Why is it so empty in these pictures?

Since I spent time in Aparecida during the COVID-19 pandemic (July 2020), I was one of only a handful of people to be on church grounds whenever I visited. I made a one-day return trip from a neighboring town in August 2020, and it looked like things had already opened up quite a bit more even one month later. I’ve been told that under normal circumstances, the cathedral is a very popular and often crowded attraction.

Where to Stay

As a long-term traveler, Airbnb is my go-to, especially since they almost always offer weekly and monthly discounts. I found a beautiful Airbnb for a great price shown below.

Feeling Intrigued?

Learn about what else the town of Aparecida has to offer!

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida is reason enough to visit this little town, but Aparecida has more to offer than its religious centerpiece. To learn a bit more about the town and its other attractions, check out my other blog post! Among other things, Aparecida offers some beautiful scenic views as well as a uniquely ‘country’ vibe.

Now that you know about the second largest church in the world, is it going on your post-pandemic bucket list? If you love architecture, religious history, and art, I can’t recommend it enough. What do you think of the Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida? Leave a comment below and let me know! Stay caffeinated, friends and travelers!

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Learn about the second largest church in the world, which can be found in the small town of Aparecida, Brazil! #aparecida #aparecidasaopaulo #aparecidadonorte #aparecidasp #aparecidabrazil #aparecidabrasil #santuarionacional #nossasenhoraaparecida #largestchurches #biggestchurches #hugechurches #biggestchurchesintheworld #largestchurchesintheworld #hugecathedrals #saopaulo #saopaulobrasil #saopaulobrazil #visitsaopaulo #visitsaopaulobrazil #visitbrazil #braziltravel #travelbrazil Learn about the second largest church in the world, which can be found in the small town of Aparecida, Brazil! #aparecida #aparecidasaopaulo #aparecidadonorte #aparecidasp #aparecidabrazil #aparecidabrasil #santuarionacional #nossasenhoraaparecida #largestchurches #biggestchurches #hugechurches #biggestchurchesintheworld #largestchurchesintheworld #hugecathedrals #saopaulo #saopaulobrasil #saopaulobrazil #visitsaopaulo #visitsaopaulobrazil #visitbrazil #braziltravel #travelbrazil

This post was published on July 25, 2020

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

The post How To Visit The World’s Second Largest Church In Aparecida, Brazil appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

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