Aparecida
Encyclopedia
Aparecida is a Brazil
ian city and municipality in the state of São Paulo
. It is located in the fertile valley of the River Paraíba do Sul
on the southern (right) bank. The population in 2004 was 35,754 (estimated) and the area of the municipality is 121.232 km². Sometimes is referred as Aparecida do Norte.
Aparecida is located 168 km northeast of São Paulo
and 240 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro
.
With an average altitude of 544 meters, and elevations varying from 525 to 620 meters, Aparecida has a hot climate with dry winters. Recorded temperatures are a maximum of 35 °C, a minimum of 9 °C and an average of 22 °C.
It is home to and named after the Basilica of the National Shrine
of Our Lady of Aparecida
, the patron saint
of Brazil, declared so by Pope Pius XI
in 1929. Pope Benedict XVI
delivered a speech here in May, 2007.
Once part of the municipality of Guaratinguetá it was emancipated in 1928. It now depends exclusively on tourism generated by the devotees surrounding the statue of the Virgin. Aparecida receives more than 7 million tourists a year making it the most popular religious pilgrimage site in Latin America.
These pilgrims come to visit the Basilica containing the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida. This statue, thought to have been found in the Paraíba River in October 1717, is made of clay and measures 40 centimenters in height. The dark colour was produced by the years of exposure to candles and lamps around the altar. In 1978 it was attacked and reduced to hundreds of fragments which were meticulously put back together by specialists from the São Paulo Museum of Art.
The city has other attractions besides the religious buildings such as a theme park, aquarium, and museums.
Among the local events are the Festa de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, on 12 October, which attracts more than 100,000 faithful, and the Festa de São Benedito
, which has performances by several folkloric groups.
The name "Aparecida" has become so important in Brazilian culture that many other towns have taken on the same name. Other Brazilian "Aparecidas" are: Aparecida (GO), Aparecida (PB)
, Aparecida (RR), Aparecida Bela (MT), Aparecida d'Oeste (SP)
, Aparecida de Goiânia (GO)
, Aparecida de Minas (MG), Aparecida do Leste (MT), Aparecida do Rio Claro (GO), Aparecida do Rio Doce (GO)
, Aparecida do Rio Negro (TO)
, Aparecida do Salto (SP), and Aparecida do Taboado (MS)
.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian city and municipality in the state of São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
. It is located in the fertile valley of the River Paraíba do Sul
Paraíba do Sul
thumbThe Paraíba do Sul , or simply termed Paraíba, is a river in the south-east of Brazil. It flows 1,137 kilometres west to northeast from its farthest source at the source of the river Paraitinga to the sea near Campos...
on the southern (right) bank. The population in 2004 was 35,754 (estimated) and the area of the municipality is 121.232 km². Sometimes is referred as Aparecida do Norte.
Aparecida is located 168 km northeast of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
and 240 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
With an average altitude of 544 meters, and elevations varying from 525 to 620 meters, Aparecida has a hot climate with dry winters. Recorded temperatures are a maximum of 35 °C, a minimum of 9 °C and an average of 22 °C.
It is home to and named after the Basilica of the National Shrine
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
The town of Aparecida, in the SE region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, houses two basilicas dedicated to Brazil's Patroness Saint, Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida, or "Our Lady of the Conception who Appeared," a reference to the appearance of the head, then the body of a statue of Mary in...
of Our Lady of Aparecida
Our Lady of Aparecida
Our Lady of Aparecida is the patron saint of Brazil, venerated in the Catholic Church. A dark-skinned Marian image, Our Lady of Aparecida is represented by a short, clay statue of the Virgin Mary, currently housed in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, in the town of...
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Brazil, declared so by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
in 1929. Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
delivered a speech here in May, 2007.
Once part of the municipality of Guaratinguetá it was emancipated in 1928. It now depends exclusively on tourism generated by the devotees surrounding the statue of the Virgin. Aparecida receives more than 7 million tourists a year making it the most popular religious pilgrimage site in Latin America.
These pilgrims come to visit the Basilica containing the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida. This statue, thought to have been found in the Paraíba River in October 1717, is made of clay and measures 40 centimenters in height. The dark colour was produced by the years of exposure to candles and lamps around the altar. In 1978 it was attacked and reduced to hundreds of fragments which were meticulously put back together by specialists from the São Paulo Museum of Art.
The city has other attractions besides the religious buildings such as a theme park, aquarium, and museums.
Among the local events are the Festa de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, on 12 October, which attracts more than 100,000 faithful, and the Festa de São Benedito
Benedict of Nursia
Saint Benedict of Nursia is a Christian saint, honored by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students.Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, about to the east of Rome, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. There is no...
, which has performances by several folkloric groups.
The name "Aparecida" has become so important in Brazilian culture that many other towns have taken on the same name. Other Brazilian "Aparecidas" are: Aparecida (GO), Aparecida (PB)
Aparecida, Paraíba
Aparecida, Paraíba is a town and municipality in the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil.-References:...
, Aparecida (RR), Aparecida Bela (MT), Aparecida d'Oeste (SP)
Aparecida d'Oeste
Aparecida d'Oeste is a Brazilian city of the state of São Paulo. The population in 2004 is 4,850....
, Aparecida de Goiânia (GO)
Aparecida de Goiânia
Aparecida de Goiânia is a city and municipality in central Goiás, Brazil. It is the second largest city in the state and a bustling industrial center.-Location:...
, Aparecida de Minas (MG), Aparecida do Leste (MT), Aparecida do Rio Claro (GO), Aparecida do Rio Doce (GO)
Aparecida do Rio Doce
right|250pxAparecida do Rio Doce is a small town and municipality in southwest Goiás state, Brazil.-Geography:The municipality of Aparecida do Rio Doce belongs to the Sudoeste de Goiás Microregion and is 208 km. from the state capital, Goiânia. Connections are made by BR-060 / Guapó / Indiara...
, Aparecida do Rio Negro (TO)
Aparecida do Rio Negro
Aparecida do Rio Negro is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Tocantins. Its population was 3,674 and its area is 1,160 km²....
, Aparecida do Salto (SP), and Aparecida do Taboado (MS)
Aparecida do Taboado
Aparecida do Taboado is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Its population was 20,426 and its area is 2,750 km²....
.