Aparecida: Encyclopedia - Aparecida

Aparecida

Aparecida (sometimes referred to as Aparecida do Norte) is a Brazilian city and municipality in the state of São Paulo. Its geographical location (22.50° S, 45.13°W) is 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.

Distances from other cities are:

• São Paulo - 168 km
• São José dos Campos - 80 km
• Pouso Alegre - 137 km
• Ubatuba - 153 km
• Rio de Janeiro - 240 km

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 35º, a minimum of 9º and an average of 22º.

It is home to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil, declared so by Pope Pius XI in 1929. The name of the city is in homage to Our Lady of Conceição Aparecida.

Once part of the municipality of Guaratinguetá it was emancipated in 1928. It now depends exclusively on tourism generated by the cult 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 Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo.

A visit to the new Basilica is a must if only for the vastness of its dimensions. The ex-voto room is especially interesting as it is lined from floor to ceiling with every possible wax representation of the human body conceivable. A room filled with pictures showing how people were cured or survived accidents with the Virgin's help is also worth seeing.

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).

The given name "Aparecida" is also very popular for girls in Brazil.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Aparecida", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki