Círio de Nazaré – A Fé e a Arte de um povo

A photo exhibition by Ale Filizzola – Embassy of Brazil in London. 01-12 Nov 2021

Every October since 1793, Brazilians and foreign travellers gather in Belém, capital of the northern state of Pará, for a procession in celebration of the Círio de Nazaré festival. It has become the largest religious event in the Western Hemisphere with more than 2 million participants.

The festivities last for 15 days, when locals and visitors celebrate a vibrant aspect of Brazilian culture through events in the areas of gastronomy, music and dance, as well as processions on bikes, river boats and marathons to express their faith. The most anticipated feature of the walking procession is a large 500-metre rope that is tied to the sacred representation of Our Lady of Nazareth. Millions of devotees dispute access to the rope, prompting an unambiguous showing of their compassion, and hope to have their prayers answered.


In December 2013, this traditional demonstration of faith was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, inscribed in the World Heritage List of 258 cultural events that ‘represent expressions of intangible heritage that are transmitted and perpetuated among communities’ (UNESCO, 2014).

The religious fervor of a believer among those who pull the rope.


About the photographer: Ale Filizzola is a prized London-based Brazilian photographer who is on a constant quest to expand his skills within a variety of photography fields.


Throughout Filizzola’s career, he has sought to cover cultural heritage, historical and social aspects of traditional Brazilian communities. More recently, he has been working with fashion photography as a new venture. He believes the lens allowes him to capture lifestyles, attitudes and environments in a more meaningful and unexpected way.

Faithful squeezed by the privilege of securing a place to pull the rope. The rope is an iconic element of the Círio. Pulling the rope is considered an honor and places along the rope are disputed in the blazing sun on temperatures above 30°C.
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