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Spiritual retreat in Brazil

Brazil has many monasteries, from the mosteiros de São Bento founded in colonial times, in Salvador, Olinda, Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, to the Cistercian abbeys of the interior. Many have a guesthouse, the hospedaria, which receives guests for a few days of silence and prayer.

This page brings together the places for a spiritual retreat in Brazil listed on RITRIT, kept up to date continuously: first the houses where you can send a stay request online, then the other communities in the directory.

These places welcome everyone, believer or not, with a free-will contribution according to your means.

2 places for a retreat

See these places on the map

Holy Cross Abbey

Itaporanga · São Paulo

Abadia de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Abbey) is a Cistercian monastery located in the interior of the state of São Paulo, in Itaporanga. It is a place of prayer, work, and community life, where the monastic tradition remains alive and accessible to those seeking a time of spiritual retreat, inner guidance, or simply a break from the ordinary rhythm of life. The imposing church, surrounded by the tranquil landscape of the Brazilian interior, naturally invites

Monks

Other addresses

Other communities are also present in the region. They are not part of RITRIT, but each has its own place, its own history and its own way of living out its vocation.

Why go on a retreat in Brazil?

A retreat in Brazil means a few days at the rhythm of a monastic community, away from the bustle of the big cities, often in the countryside of the interior.

On RITRIT, two Cistercian abbeys in the State of São Paulo can be booked online. In Itaporanga, the Abadia de Santa Cruz was founded in 1936 by monks from Himmerod Abbey in Germany. About twenty monks live there today. In São José do Rio Pardo, the Abadia de Nossa Senhora de São Bernardo, established in 1943, belongs to the Cistercian Congregation of Saint Bernard.

The directory also lists the São Bento monasteries of Salvador, Olinda, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasília, as well as the Mosteiro da Virgem in Petrópolis.

Depending on the place, guests come alone, in a group or with family, for a day, a weekend or several days, in silence or with spiritual accompaniment.

On RITRIT, sending a stay request is free.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I go on a spiritual retreat in Brazil?

The two abbeys that can be booked on RITRIT are in the State of São Paulo, in Itaporanga and São José do Rio Pardo. The directory at the bottom of the page lists more than 80 other communities, mostly in the states of São Paulo, Bahia, Pernambuco and Minas Gerais.

Can I go on a retreat in a Cistercian abbey in Brazil?

Yes. The abbeys of Santa Cruz, in Itaporanga, and Nossa Senhora de São Bernardo, in São José do Rio Pardo, are Cistercian. The monks live by the Rule of Saint Benedict, at the rhythm of the offices, and retreatants share that rhythm.

Do I need to speak Portuguese to go on a retreat in Brazil?

It is not essential, but it helps. Each listing states the languages spoken when the community has specified them. In your request, simply say which languages you speak: the guesthouse will tell you whether it can welcome you.

Can I go on a retreat near São Paulo?

Yes. Both partner abbeys are in the interior of the State of São Paulo. The city of São Paulo itself has several monasteries listed in the directory, including the Mosteiro de São Bento.

How much does a spiritual retreat in Brazil cost?

In most places, lodging is offered with a free-will contribution to the costs: everyone gives according to their means. Each community gives an indication, which you can ask the person in charge of the guesthouse. Money should not keep anyone from coming. It is all explained in our article How much does a spiritual retreat cost?

Other destinations

Looking elsewhere? Communities also welcome retreatants in France, Italy, Belgium and about ten other countries: find them on the destinations page.

Themed retreats in Brazil

Brazilian communities also offer retreats on fixed dates, on a given theme or for a specific audience. Find them all, or locate the guesthouses on the map.

See retreats in Brazil See the map of places