Aparecida is a Brazilian municipality situated in the state of São Paulo, positioned within the fertile valley of the River Paraíba do Sul on its southern bank. It forms part of the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte and serves as a significant administrative center in this region. The town lies geographically between two major urban hubs, located approximately 168 kilometers northeast of São Paulo and 240 kilometers west of Rio de Janeiro, making it a central point in the Vale do Paraíba region.

The area was once part of the municipality of Guaratinguetá before gaining emancipation as an independent municipality in 1928. Its origins are tied to the discovery of a terracotta statue of the Virgin Mary in the Paraíba River in October 1717, which led to the establishment of a chapel and subsequently a village named Aparecida. The site gained religious prominence when Pope Pius XI declared Our Lady of Aparecida as the patron saint of Brazil in 1929, cementing its historical and spiritual significance within the nation.

The municipality is defined by its major Catholic pilgrimage sites, most notably the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, also known as the Basílica Nova. This massive temple, inaugurated in 1980 with a 100-meter high tower, houses the original clay statue found in 1717. The city also features the Basílica Velha, a Baroque-style church completed in 1888 that previously held the statue, and the Passarela da Fé pedestrian bridge linking the two basilicas, offering views of the surrounding region.

Aparecida functions as the most popular religious pilgrimage site in Latin America, attracting millions of devotees annually to visit the shrine. The economy depends exclusively on tourism generated by these visitors, who come to honor the statue believed to have been crafted in the 17th century. The traditional Feira da Avenida Monumental weekend market spans the path between the bus terminal and the basilica, featuring thousands of tents selling goods related to the Catholic faith and local crafts.

The municipality has a population of 33,141 as of 2025, covering an area of 121.08 square kilometers with an average altitude of 544 meters. It experiences a hot climate with dry winters, with recorded temperatures ranging from a minimum of −1 °C to a maximum of 35 °C. Access is facilitated by the BR-116 highway and intercity bus services from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, while the nearest commercial airport is in São José dos Campos.