Setur promotes religious tourism with the Pilgrims of Nazaré Project
The 2025 edition will have new features, such as increasing the number of support points from 17 to 28, covering 13 municipalities
In a meeting this Thursday (18), the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Tourism (Setur), the Directorate of the Nazaré Festival, and other partners announced the news for the 2025 edition of the Pilgrims of Nazaré Project, which offers logistical support, security, food, and health services to pilgrims walking from various municipalities to Belém for the Círio de Nazaré, from October 6 to 11.
At the event, information was presented about infrastructure, support points, the Pilgrims of Nazaré app, and QR Code, as well as the role of each partner.
This year, the number of support points increased from 17 to 28 compared to 2024, covering 13 municipalities along the BR-316 Highway (from Santa Maria do Pará), Alça Viária, PA-391, PA-140, PA-151, Vila do Conde (PA-483), and PA-252.
Technology - Scheduled for launch on October 7, another novelty of this edition is the Pilgrims of Nazaré app, which will gather information about the posts, services offered, the pilgrim's mileage, and the distance to the Basilica Sanctuary. Along the route, pilgrims will find, at the official support points, registration QR Codes to receive the Official Pilgrim Diploma of the Círio de Nazaré at the end of the pilgrimage. The data collected will be used by Setur to assess the audience and assist in structuring tourism products in the religious segment.
Setur is working on structuring the project to transform it into a tourism product and a reference in the religious segment, as already occurs in routes like Aparecida (SP) and the Camino de Santiago (Spain). “The 'Pilgrim of Nazaré' takes on the importance of being a project that, structured by Setur, can be transformed into an international tourism route. Since 2024, we have focused on working with this goal, identifying the weaknesses of the process, so that we can effectively place the route in the international market, because nationally we already have records of states that are already commercializing routes, part of this pilgrimage route,” explained Conceição Silva, a technician at Setur responsible for coordinating the project.
“In addition to our mission of welcoming and supporting with infrastructures, we want to ensure the perpetuation of this manifestation so that, beyond Pará, other states can traverse. We currently have 13 municipalities, which have sites and some localities, such as Caraparu, that can provide this dynamic of serving these pilgrims of Catholic religious tourism throughout the year, especially in this already mapped area,” added Conceição Silva.
Peace of mind on the route - According to the Secretary of State for Public Security and Social Defense, Ualame Machado, "once again we are gathering and working on an integrated and strategic security planning, which will mobilize security forces to act at all stages of the Círio, including the walk of the pilgrims coming via BR-316 and Alça Viária. Therefore, we will be ensuring the safety of the pilgrims, with the presence of agents at strategic points alongside other state, municipal, and federal agencies, with preventive actions against crime and any disorder. We already emphasize the importance of the attention and collaboration of the surrounding community and the pilgrims, so that any suspicious situation can be reported, as safety is a shared responsibility. Furthermore, we reinforce that we will be committed to ensuring that everyone can express their faith peacefully throughout the route."
So far, more than 300 caravans have already registered, a number that is expected to increase, according to the Directorate of the Festival. In 2024, more than 70,000 people were served at the Casa de Plácido. “We have seen a significant increase in the number of service points to ensure more safety and hospitality for the devotees who travel long distances to Belém. We are requesting that everyone who will be pilgrim enter the official Círio website and register, so that we can be provided here with food, health assistance, and receive and welcome them in the best way,” informed Paulo André Freitas, director of Processions.
The Pilgrims of Nazaré Project has the support of volunteers along the route and various institutions, including the Archdiocese of Belém, Archdiocese of Castanhal, State Secretariat of Tourism, State Secretariat of Public Health (Sespa), Federal Highway Police (PRF), State Highway Police, Military Police, Military Fire Brigade, Civil Defense, Sesi (Social Service of Industry), Red Cross, Rota do Pará, City Halls, and Municipal Guards.
Faith Walk - The traditional Castanhal–Belém Pilgrimage began in the 1980s, when small groups of devotees walked the approximately 78 kilometers between the two municipalities. Today, the practice has expanded, gathering hundreds of pilgrims from different cities in Pará, especially in the week leading up to the Círio, in expressions of faith that mark the largest religious event in Brazil. In 2024 alone, more than 10,000 people registered in caravans on the website.
Registrations for groups of pilgrims and caravans can be made on the website www.ciriodenazare.com.br/peregrinos-de-nazare.
