Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida

About

Honoring the patron saint of Brazil, the monumental Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida has a humble origin - three fishermen reeled in a statue of the Virgin Mary in the 18th century, which blessed them with a bounteous catch. The statue was originally housed in the home of one of the fishermen, but an ever-increasing tide of pilgrims led him to create a small chapel, which had to be replaced by a series of ever-larger buildings. In 1955, construction began on the new basilica, which is the largest cathedral, and second largest Catholic church in the world after St. Peter's Basilica. Regardless of your faith, its sheer size is awe-inspiring, so be sure to walk around it before heading inside to be dwarfed by the soaring ceilings. The complex is so huge, it also houses a shopping mall, medical clinic, and restaurants!