The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Belém, Brazil

Gateway to the Amazon and host of the Círio de Nazaré—the world's largest Catholic procession, drawing over two million pilgrims each October to honor Our Lady of Nazareth at her neoclassical basilica.

In the year 1700, along the muddy banks of the Murutucu stream in the tropical heart of the Amazon, a caboclo named Plácido José de Souza discovered a small, weathered wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. What followed would defy explanation: each time the image was moved—to Plácido's home, to the Governor's Palace, to the Cathedral—it mysteriously returned to the spot where it was found. The faithful saw the hand of God at work. A simple chapel was built at the site, and so began a devotion that would grow into the largest Catholic procession on Earth. Belém, the capital of Pará state, rises where the Pará River meets the vastness of the Amazon basin, just 100 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. Founded in 1616 as Santa Maria de Belém do Grão Pará, the city served as the gateway to the Amazon for centuries of missionaries, explorers, and traders. The rubber boom of the late 19th century transformed Belém into a wealthy metropolis, leaving behind grand belle époque architecture that still lines the tree-shaded avenues of the Nazaré district. Today, this city of over 1.4 million souls pulses with Amazonian energy—a place where the scent of açaí and tucupi mingles with incense from church doorways, and where faith runs as deep as the great river itself. Every October, on the second Sunday of the month, more than two million pilgrims flood into Belém for the Círio de Nazaré (Candle of Nazareth). The procession carries the Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Nazareth from the Metropolitan Cathedral to the Basilica-Sanctuary, a journey of 3.6 kilometers that takes over five hours as the faithful surge forward, many walking barefoot, others carrying bricks on their heads in fulfillment of promises, all clinging to the sacred corda—the 400-meter rope attached to the berlinda (gilded carriage) bearing the Virgin. UNESCO recognized the Círio as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, acknowledging its profound significance to Brazilian faith and culture. Whether you come as a devout pilgrim or a curious traveler, Belém offers an encounter with a living, breathing Catholicism that has flourished in the heart of the Amazon for over three centuries.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The story begins not in Brazil, but in Portugal. According to tradition, the original image of Our Lady of Nazareth was carved by St. Joseph himself and brought to Nazaré, Portugal, in the 4th century by a Greek monk fleeing the Moors. There, devotion to Nossa Senhora de Nazaré flourished for centuries, with the main pilgrimage celebrated each September 8th. Portuguese Jesuits brought devotion to Our Lady of Nazareth to the Amazon in the 17th century. The statue discovered by Plácido in 1700 was a small replica of the Portuguese original—a dark-colored wooden figure, just 28 centimeters tall, depicting Mary seated and nursing the Christ Child. The miraculous returns of the image to its place of discovery convinced both the faithful and Church authorities that the Virgin wished to be venerated at that precise spot. The first formal Círio procession took place on September 8, 1793, organized by Bishop Dom João Evangelista de Lima. Initially an evening pilgrimage illuminated by candles (hence Círio, from the Latin cereum, meaning "large candle"), the procession was moved to the morning in 1854 after torrential rains had drenched the faithful the previous year. In 1882, Bishop Antônio de Macedo Costa established that the procession would depart from the Sé Cathedral, a tradition that continues to this day. The current Basilica was begun in 1909, when the faithful outgrew the earlier church on the site. Italian architects Gino Coppede and Giuseppe Predasso designed the magnificent neoclassical temple, inspired by the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. Father Luís Zoia of the Barnabite order championed the project, coordinating from Italy while Father Afonso Di Giorgio tirelessly gathered donations. The basilica was elevated to its current status in July 1923—the third basilica in Brazil and the first in the entire northern region. In 2006, Archbishop Dom Orani João Tempesta further elevated it to the rank of Archdiocesan Marian Sanctuary. The original image found by Plácido remains in the Basilica year-round, enshrined in a crystal dome in the Glória above the main altar. Since 1969, a replica called the Imagem Peregrina (Pilgrim Image)—sculpted by Italian artist Giacomo Muzner with features inspired by Amazonian women—travels in all processions.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Belém

Belém's pilgrimage sites are concentrated in the historic center and the elegant Nazaré district, where rubber barons once built their mansions beneath canopies of mango trees. The 3.6-kilometer route of the Círio connects the city's two most important churches, passing through colonial plazas and belle époque avenues alive with the faith of Amazonian Catholicism.

Basílica Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré

Local Name: Basílica de Nazaré Address: Avenida Nossa Senhora de Nazaré, 1300 – Nazaré, Belém, Pará 66035-145, Brazil GPS Coordinates: -1.4520, -48.4890 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: basilicadenazare.com.br Dedication: Our Lady of Nazareth Historical Note: Construction began on October 24, 1909, on the exact spot where the miraculous image was discovered over two centuries earlier. The basilica measures 62 meters long, 24 meters wide, and 20 meters high, with twin towers rising 42 meters. Its nine bells include one weighing over two tons with a diameter of 1.80 meters. Administered by the Barnabite Fathers since the 19th century, the church was designated a Minor Basilica in 1923 by Pope Pius XI. Spiritual Importance: The basilica houses the original 28-centimeter statue of Our Lady of Nazareth, displayed year-round in the Glória—an elevated space decorated with angels and splendors above the main altar. The interior features 53 magnificent French stained glass windows and Italian mosaics covering the upper walls, all directing the eye toward the altar where the Virgin awaits. The Stations of the Cross, set within large circles along the lateral walls, symbolize the beads of a great rosary, with the monumental bronze doors representing the crucifix. The inscription on the façade reads Deiparae Virgini a Nazareth ("To the Virgin of Nazareth, Mother of God"). On August 15, 1953, the image was canonically crowned by papal decree of Pope Pius XII.

Catedral Metropolitana de Nossa Senhora da Graça (Sé Cathedral)

Local Name: Catedral da Sé Address: Praça Frei Caetano Brandão, s/n – Cidade Velha, Belém, Pará, Brazil GPS Coordinates: -1.4560, -48.5028 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: Our Lady of Grace (Nossa Senhora da Graça) Historical Note: The Metropolitan Cathedral of Belém, built around 1719, is the first church constructed in the entire Northern Region of Brazil. Its exterior presents a simple baroque façade, but the interior was completely restyled by Italian painter Domenico de Angelis in European neoclassical fashion. The cathedral houses one of only two organs in Brazil imported from Europe during the colonial period. Spiritual Importance: As the starting point of the Círio de Nazaré since 1882, the Sé Cathedral holds a central place in the spiritual life of Belém. On the night before the main procession, the Trasladação (Transfer) brings the Pilgrim Image here, where it remains for an overnight vigil before beginning its triumphant journey to the Basilica the following morning. The cathedral stands in the historic Cidade Velha (Old City), the original colonial settlement founded in 1616.

Igreja de Santo Alexandre (Museum of Sacred Art)

Address: Praça Frei Caetano Brandão, s/n – Cidade Velha, Belém, Pará, Brazil GPS Coordinates: -1.4563, -48.5030 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: St. Alexander Historical Note: This 17th-century Jesuit church, built between 1616 and 1719, now serves as the Museum of Sacred Art of Pará. Its baroque interior showcases the artistic heritage of colonial Amazonian Catholicism. Spiritual Importance: While no longer an active parish, the Church of Santo Alexandre preserves the sacred art and devotional objects that tell the story of the Catholic faith's arrival and flourishing in the Amazon basin.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

Second Sunday of October – Círio de Nazaré Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth. The main procession departs from the Sé Cathedral at dawn, with over two million pilgrims accompanying the Pilgrim Image through the streets of Belém. Faithful cling to the 400-meter corda (rope) attached to the gilded berlinda, many walking barefoot or carrying symbolic objects in fulfillment of promises. The celebrations begin in August and continue for 15 days after the main procession, including the Motoromaria (motorcycle procession), Círio Fluvial (river procession across Guajará Bay), and the Recírio when the image returns to the Basilica. August 15 – Feast of the Assumption / Anniversary of the Canonical Coronation Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth. This date marks both the Solemnity of the Assumption and the anniversary of the 1953 papal coronation of the image of Our Lady of Nazareth, a ceremony authorized by Pope Pius XII.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Radisson Hotel Belém ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Avenida Bras de Aguiar, 612 – Nazaré, Belém, Pará 66035-000, Brazil 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Four-star hotel in the Nazaré district, within walking distance of the Basilica, offering modern amenities and rooftop pool. Hotel Grão-Pará ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Avenida Presidente Vargas, 718 – Campina, Belém, Pará 66017-000, Brazil 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Traditional hotel in the historic center near the Sé Cathedral, convenient for pilgrims following the Círio route. Ibis Belém Aeroporto ⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Avenida Júlio César, 1931 – Val-de-Cães, Belém, Pará 66115-000, Brazil 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Budget-friendly option near the airport, ideal for arrivals and departures. Note: Accommodations fill months in advance for the Círio de Nazaré in October. Book early or consider staying in neighboring municipalities such as Ananindeua.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Val de Cães International Airport (BEL) serves Belém with flights from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and other Brazilian cities. International connections typically route through São Paulo. The airport is approximately 10 km from the city center. By Bus: Belém's Bus Terminal (Terminal Rodoviário) connects to destinations throughout Brazil, including São Luís, Fortaleza, and Brasília, though journeys are extremely long given the city's remote location. By Boat: Belém is a major river port with connections to Manaus, Santarém, and other Amazon destinations. The iconic multi-day boat journey from Manaus (approximately 4-5 days) remains a classic Amazonian experience. Local Transport: Taxis, ride-share apps (Uber, 99), and buses serve the city. During the Círio, many streets close to traffic, and pilgrims traverse the historic center on foot.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • A Devoção à Virgem de Nazaré: História e Tradição – Comprehensive history of the devotion in Portugal and Brazil
  • Círio de Nazaré: Patrimônio Cultural do Brasil (IPHAN) – Official documentation of the Círio's recognition as Brazilian cultural heritage

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

✝️ Closing Reflection

"The Círio is a long devotion that expresses the relationship of the people of God to the Mother of the Lord. It is a public demonstration of God's love through Mary that continues in our homes and in the lives of the people."

— Dom Vital Corbellini, Bishop of Marabá

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For the most current information on Mass schedules, visiting hours, and Círio events, please contact the Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth directly or visit their official website. Pilgrimage arrangements during the October festival should be made well in advance due to the extraordinary number of visitors.