Aparecida is located 170 km from the city of São Paulo and belongs to a region called Vale do Paraíba. The city received this name because, in 1717, fishermen found an image of Our Lady Aparecida in the Paraíba do Sul River. The miraculous catch was a sign that the 
religious vocation of the city was consecrated.
In 1745, the image received a chapel, and in 1888, it needed to be expanded and became the Main Basilica, currently referred to as the “Old Basilica.” The village also grew to become the city of Aparecida. Known worldwide, the city receives millions of people annually, from all over the country and abroad, to demonstrate their faith to the patroness of Brazil.
In the city, there are several old buildings and churches with infrastructure for visitation, among them the largest Catholic temple in the country, the National Sanctuary, also called the New Basilica. Built in 1955 due to the growing number of devotees, the new temple is the largest center for religious pilgrimage in Latin America.
The Faith Walkway connects the Old Basilica to the National Sanctuary. Its shape was designed in the form of an “S,” in homage to Our Lady Aparecida. The city’s tourist complex also includes Porto Itaguaçu, which marks the spot where the image of Our Lady was found, the Bom Jesus Missionary Seminary, Morro do Cruzeiro, with its sculptures representing the Stations of the Cross, and 
the Church of Saint Benedict, inaugurated in 1918.
Among the festivals that enliven the city are the Feast of Saint Benedict, which takes place a week after Easter, and that of Our Lady Aparecida, which occurs in October, with a festive novena at the National Sanctuary. During Carnival, the city offers retreats and activities for those seeking healthy fun during the Momo festivities.
Source: www.visitbrasil.com