Passarela da Fé
The pedestrian crossing between Aparecida's two basilicas, carrying pilgrims through the city in thanksgiving, petition, and ordinary prayer.
The Passarela joins the two basilicas across the town.
- Location
- Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil
- 22.8485° S · 45.2316° W
- Type
- Pedestrian devotional crossing
- Time Needed
- 30 minutes
Prayer between the two basilicas.
The Passarela da Fé turns the crossing of an ordinary town into part of a pilgrimage. Walk it slowly from the National Shrine toward the older basilica, carrying the intention you brought before the image. The two buildings belong to one history, and this bridge lets the body follow that connection.
A crossing opened in 1971.
Inaugurated on December 19, 1971, the pedestrian bridge was built to connect the National Shrine and the historic basilica safely. About 392 meters long, it has also become a place of thanksgiving and the fulfillment of promises. Some devotees cross on their knees as a personal penitential practice. Witness that devotion respectfully; an ordinary prayerful walk is a fitting way to make the crossing.
The curved crossing rises above the streets and frames both sanctuary buildings. Its interest is the movement between them: look back toward the new basilica before entering the historic center.
Prayer between the two basilicas.
A decade of the Rosary or a prayer for someone absent can give the crossing a simple form. Keep the way clear for other pilgrims, and avoid photographing a person’s act of devotion without permission.
- 01 Two basilicas, one pilgrimage The curved crossing rises above the streets and frames both sanctuary buildings. Its interest is the movement between them: look back toward the new basilica before entering the historic center.
Spiritual Significance
A decade of the Rosary or a prayer for someone absent can give the crossing a simple form. Keep the way clear for other pilgrims, and avoid photographing a person’s act of devotion without permission.
Do Not Miss
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01
The approach to the historic basilica
Carry the crossing into a period of prayer inside the earlier sanctuary.
Visit Plans
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30 Minutes
Cross the bridge slowly, pausing for a prayer before entering the historic center.
How to Visit
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Begin
The Passarela da Fé turns the crossing of an ordinary town into part of a pilgrimage. Walk it slowly from the National Shrine toward the older basilica, carrying the intention you brought before the image. The two buildings belong to one history, and this bridge lets the body follow that connection.
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Allow space
Leave a margin around the sanctuary’s current liturgical schedule. On outdoor approaches, carry water and adapt the walk to heat, rain, and your own strength.
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Continue
Return to the National Shrine for prayer, or use the Aparecida guide to place this visit within two unhurried days.
Plan around the current sanctuary program
The National Shrine publishes visitor information for this part of Aparecida. Use it to confirm access and the day’s pastoral activities.
- Time allowance
- 20 to 30 minutes with pauses
Practical considerations
The crossing is outdoors and can be busy. Allow for the approach ramps, sun, and crowds; confirm a suitable accessible route with the sanctuary.
Additional schedule notes
October pilgrimage
October 12 and the preceding novena change crowd levels and travel times. Consult the current annual program before making arrangements.
Continue Your Pilgrimage
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City hub
Aparecida
Where this church sits within the wider Catholic geography of Aparecida.
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Shrine
National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
Brazil's national Marian sanctuary, centered on the small image found in the Paraíba do Sul in 1717 and on the prayer of the pilgrims who come before it.
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Church
Basilica Histórica of Aparecida
The basilica inaugurated in 1888 on the earlier sanctuary site, preserving the scale and continuity of Aparecida before the National Shrine.
Map
Santuário Nacional / A12 supplies the historical account and current visitor information. Operational details should be confirmed with the sanctuary.
September 22, 2026
Photo credits
- Hero. Passarela da Fé - Aparecida 2014. Photo: José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source. CC BY-SA 3.0.