Círio de Nazaré: Participate in One of the World’s Largest Religious Celebrations

Held for over 200 years, the Círio is a grand manifestation of faith and devotion to Our Lady of Nazaré

The Círio de Nazaré is an integral part of the history of the people of Pará. Celebrated on the second Sunday of October, the festival attracts millions of faithful and tourists from all corners of the globe and various religious beliefs. Its great significance earned the Círio the recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Brazil by IPHAN (Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage) and the designation of Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

History of the Círio

It all began in the year 1700 with the discovery of the image of Our Lady of Nazaré by the Caboclo Plácido, on the banks of a stream near where the Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré is located. Since then, devotion to the Virgin has grown, and in 1793, the first procession in honor of the Patroness of the people of Pará took place.

Since then, the Círio has been held annually, always in October. The main program of the festival always occurs in the second week of the month, involving many events. It starts on Tuesday with the official opening Mass and ends on Sunday with the Círio de Nazaré procession.

How to Participate in the Círio

If you want to participate in the Círio, the first step is to plan to be in Belém do Pará during the second week of October. Saturday and Sunday are the days that draw the largest crowds, but there are significant events throughout the entire Círio week.

The second step is to choose how you want to participate in the festivities. If you are looking to volunteer during the events, sign up through the official Círio website. There, you will find all the information on how you can help. There are volunteer opportunities in various areas, even for handing out water to cool off the faithful crowding around the Círio rope.

If you are going to the Círio to fulfill promises, participating in the pilgrimages and processions is the way to go. Now, if you just want to witness the grandeur of this festival, there are several options. The cheapest way to follow the Círio is from the sidewalks along the route of the Virgin’s procession. But be prepared for a sea of people passing alongside the float and the rope that follows closely behind.

For a bit more comfort, you can purchase a ticket to sit in one of the stands along the procession route; pay to stay in one of the VIP boxes; or buy a ticket to board one of the boats participating in the Fluvial Romaria (on Saturday). Choose the option that best fits your style for enjoying such a large event and savor every minute of that contagious energy!

Fun fact: Oh! The Círio has a mobile app! The “Find the Float” app helps tourists and pilgrims follow the Virgin’s image minute by minute. This way, it’s easy to know exactly where she is!

Círio Program Schedule

The main events of the Círio de Nazaré take place in the second week of October. You can find the complete program on the official website, but here are the main events!

It is exactly on Tuesday at 6 PM that the official opening Mass of the Círio takes place. The Mass occurs at the Basilica Sanctuary and marks the beginning of the marathon of events during the main week of celebrations. On Wednesday at 8 PM, the Procession of the Transfer of the Cars begins, where the cars that accompany the image of Our Lady of Nazaré during the Círio are paraded to the warehouses, where they will wait for the day of the main procession.

On Thursday at 6 PM, the Mass for the Presentation of the Mantle takes place at the Basilica Sanctuary. This is a moment of great emotion among the faithful who squeeze in to see the new garment of the saint up close. On Friday, the program starts early. Around 7 AM, a Mass is held at the Basilica, followed by the transfer of the Virgin’s image to Ananindeua, in the metropolitan region of Belém. There, it remains until Saturday when it leaves for the Road Romaria.

The Círio Saturday starts at 5:30 AM with the Road Romaria in Ananindeua. It’s a 24 km walk until reaching the Icoaraci waterfront. There, around 9 AM, the Fluvial Romaria begins, transporting the Pilgrim image by boat across the waters of Baía de Guajará towards the center of Belém. Hundreds of small and large boats follow the main boat. It’s a beautiful sight to see!

At 11:30 AM, the Virgin’s image arrives at the port in Praça Pedro Teixeira. At this moment, the Moto Romaria begins. Motorcyclists escort the image of the Saint to Colégio Gentil Bittencourt. Once the Moto Romaria ends, the focus of the celebrations shifts back to the interior of the Basilica Sanctuary. Around 12:30 PM, the original image of Our Lady of Nazaré is lowered from the Glory.

Back at Colégio Gentil Bittencourt at 4:30 PM, the Mass begins, followed by the Trasladação—a procession that carries the Pilgrim image in an open cart to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Belém. The image is protected by the Guard of Nazaré and by the floats, which are iron structures through which the rope that surrounds the image passes. Amidst the crowd, the faithful vie for a moment to touch and hold the rope. This is one of the most beautiful and important events of the Círio!

Did you know? One of the most important symbols of the Círio de Nazaré is the rope that surrounds the image of Our Lady. It represents the bond between the Virgin and the faithful. Touching the rope is considered one of the greatest acts of faith and devotion to the saint and one of the ways for the faithful to fulfill promises.

Sunday is the big day of the Círio! The program starts at 6 AM with a Mass. Arrive early to get a good spot to watch the procession! As soon as the Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Belém ends, the Círio procession begins, taking the Pilgrim image in an open cart for 3.6 kilometers to Praça Santuário de Nazaré, where the Basilica is located. This is the most emotional and emblematic event of the Círio, attracting over 2 million faithfuls to the streets of downtown Belém!

Be a Tourist in Belém

Take advantage of your time in the capital of Pará and be a tourist! Don’t miss out on visiting the Mercado Ver-o-Peso. There, you will find a vast array of typical dishes from the region. One of the most sought-after foods is maniçoba, a thick, dark stew made from cassava leaves and seasoned with sausage, paio, and pork. There’s also pato no tucupi, which is very popular among visitors. Be sure to indulge in all of them!

Plan Ahead!

Don’t leave everything to the last minute! Participating in a large festival like this requires planning. If you plan to watch the pilgrimage from the stands or a VIP box, purchase your ticket many months in advance. The same applies to participating in the Fluvial Romaria. The hotel network fills up very quickly, so book your accommodation as soon as you can. Avoid hassles!

October is a very hot time in Belém. Bring light clothing, use plenty of sunscreen, always carry a water bottle, and choose comfortable shoes to participate in the events. And don’t forget to check the official event website for updated dates and times. Above all, go with an open heart, as you will leave the Círio de Nazaré with a renewed spirit!

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