Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte description and photos - Portugal: Braga (Topic)

Santuario do Bom Jesus do Monte description and photos - Portugal: Braga. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Santuario do Bom Jesus do Monte.

Photo and description

The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monti is located in the vicinity of the Tenoes region, on a hilltop, near the town of Braga. Sanctuary is a popular pilgrimage site for Catholics who begin their ascent to the sanctuary from the monumental zigzag staircase in the Baroque style, the length of which is 116 m.

The first mention of the chapel on this peak dates back to 1373. In the 15th-16th centuries, reconstruction works were carried out in the chapel of the Holy Cross of the Lord, and in 1629 the pilgrimage church of the Good Jesus with six chapels of the Passion of Christ was built. The construction of the sanctuary, the building of which can be seen today, began in 1722, under the patronage of the Archbishop of Braga, Rodrigo de Moore Telles. His coat of arms can be seen above the gate, at the very beginning of the stairs. Under his leadership, the construction of the first span of the staircase with chapels was completed. Each chapel is decorated with terracotta sculptures depicting the Passion of Christ.

The Archbishop of Braga also contributed to the construction of the second zigzag staircase, on which fountains with figures symbolizing the Five Senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste are installed. At the end of the second span there is a baroque chapel built in 1725 by the architect Manuel Pinto Vilalobos. In 1760, three octagonal chapels with sculptures inside were built behind the church, which depict episodes after the crucifixion of Christ, for example, the meeting of Jesus with Mary Magdalene. Around these chapels there are four Baroque fountains, decorated with statues depicting the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In 1781, Bishop Gaspard built the third flight of stairs and a church. The third span is also zigzag-shaped and is dedicated to the three biblical virtues Faith, Hope and Love, the sculptural images of which adorn the fountains. On the site of the old church, a new one was built in the neoclassical style.

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Topic: Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte description and photos - Portugal: Braga.