The Symbolic (In)Visibility of the Church of Saint Joseph of Macapá in Its Urban Context

Abstract

The Church of Saint Joseph, named in honor of the patron saint of the city of Macapá, is an important historical and religious heritage site for the people of Amapá. This monument, which in 2025 marked 267 years since its construction, has a close connection with the city’s historical and cultural memory. Thus, the research that supported this article aimed to highlight the relevance of the Church of Saint Joseph of Macapá as a historical and cultural heritage, emphasizing the link between its construction and the founding of Vila Macapá in the 18th century during the administrative actions of the Marquis of Pombal. The study also presents some reflections on how this heritage has been losing space and visibility in the urban context, especially since the 1940s, when its building was modified due to the arrival of priests from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in Amapá. The qualitative research was made possible through references concerning the Church’s heritage or ecclesiastical heritage, sources that contextualize the history of its construction and the transformations carried out by the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, images to compare the changes undergone by the building and its surroundings, and on-site visits. As a result, attention is drawn to the fact that the Church of Saint Joseph, although listed as Macapá’s historical and cultural heritage, is constantly under threat, both from the lack of State action regarding proper protection measures for the building and from the loss of visibility caused by the new constructions around it.