On a hillside east of Portugal's third-largest city, a monumental Baroque stairway climbs 116 meters through a sacred landscape that has drawn pilgrims since the fourteenth century. The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, represents the most ambitious and artistically complete of Europe's Sacri Monti—sacred mountains created in response to the Counter-Reformation's call to bring Jerusalem's holy sites to those who could not travel to the Holy Land.
Braga sits at the heart of the Minho region in northwestern Portugal, its skyline punctuated by church towers and sanctuary domes. The Romans founded Bracara Augusta here in the first century BC, and by the third century AD it had become a center for the Christianization of the Iberian Peninsula. Today the city claims Portugal's oldest cathedral, the primatial seat of both Portugal and Spain, and three major pilgrimage sanctuaries within easy reach of one another. The Archdiocese of Braga ranks among the most ancient in Christendom, and the Portuguese have a saying—Tão velho como a Sé de Braga (As old as Braga Cathedral)—for anything of great antiquity.
From the Baroque splendor of Bom Jesus do Monte to the Marian grandeur of the Sanctuary of Sameiro, where an estimated 400,000 faithful gathered to welcome Pope John Paul II in May 1982, Braga offers pilgrims an extraordinary concentration of sacred heritage. The city's devotional traditions continue unbroken, with major feast days drawing tens of thousands of faithful each year to sanctuaries that crown the wooded hills surrounding the ancient episcopal city.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Braga's Christian heritage stretches back nearly two millennia. Saint Peter of Rates, traditionally considered the first bishop, is said to have been ordained by Saint James the Great himself around the year 45 AD. When the Roman Empire crumbled, Braga became the capital of the Suebi Kingdom, and Bishop Martin of Dumio converted these Germanic settlers to Catholicism around 550. The Moorish invasion of 716 silenced the bishopric for over three centuries, but following the Christian reconquest, Count Henry of Burgundy chose Braga as his capital and commissioned the construction of a new cathedral in the 1070s.
The cathedral's consecration on August 28, 1089—decades before Portugal even existed as an independent nation—established Braga's primacy over the emerging Portuguese Church. The parents of Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, lie entombed within its walls. In the centuries that followed, successive archbishops expanded Braga's sacred landscape. The first record of a chapel at Bom Jesus dates to 1373, and by 1629 the Confraternity of Bom Jesus do Monte had been founded to formalize pilgrimage to the hilltop site.
Archbishop Rodrigo de Moura Teles transformed Bom Jesus beginning in 1722, commissioning the elaborate stairways with their terra cotta Passion chapels and allegorical fountains of the Five Senses. His successor, Archbishop Gaspar de Bragança, completed the ensemble with the Stairway of the Three Virtues and the present Neoclassical church, consecrated in 1834. The water-powered funicular, inaugurated in 1882, became the first on the Iberian Peninsula.
Meanwhile, Marian devotion found spectacular expression at Monte Sameiro. Following Pope Pius IX's declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, Father Martinho António Pereira da Silva placed a statue of Our Lady on the hilltop in 1863. The sanctuary that grew around it became Portugal's second-largest Marian pilgrimage site after Fátima, crowned by Pope John Paul II's historic visit on May 15, 1982, when he celebrated Mass for families before hundreds of thousands of faithful.
A distinctive element of Braga's religious heritage is the Rito Bracarense (Rite of Braga)—a Catholic liturgical rite that took shape between the 11th and 13th centuries. When Pope Pius V imposed the Roman Rite in the 16th century, Braga was exempted because its rite was already more than 200 years old. This ancient liturgy, with its accentuated Eucharistic devotion and developed Marian character, is most prominently featured during Holy Week ceremonies at the Cathedral.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Braga
Braga's sanctuaries occupy a dramatic landscape of forested hills rising above the city. The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte commands views that on clear days extend to the Atlantic Ocean, while the Sanctuary of Sameiro crowns an even higher summit less than two kilometers away. A woodland path connects the two, allowing pilgrims to journey between them on foot. In the city center below, the ancient cathedral anchors a medieval quarter filled with churches and chapels.
Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte
Sanctuary of the Good Jesus of the Mount
The sacred hill of Monte Espinho has drawn worshippers since at least 1373, when a small chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross stood at its summit. The present sanctuary took shape under Archbishop Rodrigo de Moura Teles beginning in 1722. His patronage created the Portico Stairway with its Via Crucis chapels housing life-sized terra cotta sculptures of Christ's Passion, followed by the ingenious Stairway of the Five Senses, where fountains represent Sight, Smell, Hearing, Touch, and Taste through allegorical figures. Pilgrims traditionally ascend the 577 granite steps on their knees, meditating on Christ's Passion as they pass the sculptural stations depicting His suffering and death. The fountains of the Five Senses symbolize the purification of bodily faculties as one approaches the divine, while the final Stairway of the Three Virtues—Faith, Hope, and Charity—prepares the soul for encounter with God. The Neoclassical church crowning the ensemble was designed by architect Carlos Amarante, with its first stone laid on July 1, 1784, though consecration did not occur until 1834. The Terreiro dos Evangelistas behind the church contains octagonal chapels depicting scenes after the Crucifixion, completing the devotional program. UNESCO recognized Bom Jesus in 2019 as an outstanding example of European sacred mountain architecture, praising its exceptional artistic unity and the way it recreates Christian Jerusalem on Portuguese soil.
Elevador do Bom Jesus
Bom Jesus Funicular
The world's oldest water-counterbalance funicular still in operation, the Elevador do Bom Jesus opened in 1882 to carry pilgrims up Monte Espinho. Swiss engineer Nikolaus Riggenbach designed the system, which uses no electricity—descending cars filled with water pull ascending cars upward by gravity alone. The three-minute journey covers nearly 300 meters of track at gradients reaching 42 percent. Taking the funicular up and walking the sacred stairway down allows pilgrims to experience both the contemplative ascent through the devotional program and this remarkable feat of nineteenth-century engineering.
Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Sameiro
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro
Father Martinho António Pereira da Silva initiated devotion at Monte Sameiro in 1863, placing a marble statue of the Immaculate Conception on the hilltop to celebrate Pope Pius IX's 1854 dogmatic definition. The original sculpture by Emídio Carlo Amatucci was inaugurated on August 28, 1869, and though destroyed by an electrical fire in 1883, was soon replaced. The present Neoclassical basilica rose over subsequent decades, with its dome offering commanding views over the Minho valley. On May 15, 1982, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass for families here before an estimated 400,000 faithful, and in 2004 he honored the sanctuary with the Golden Rose. Sameiro ranks as Portugal's second-largest Marian pilgrimage site after Fátima, drawing devotees especially for the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage on the first Sunday of June and the statutory pilgrimage on the third Sunday of August. The main altar enshrines a statue of Our Lady sculpted in Rome and blessed by Pope Pius IX himself, her crown fashioned from gold donated by Portuguese women and adorned with jewels from Queen Amélia de Orleães. Four statues honoring Marian theologians—Anthony of Padua, Bernard of Clairvaux, Cyril of Alexandria, and Alphonsus Liguori—greet pilgrims at the entrance. A relic of Pope John Paul II, now canonized, is venerated within the basilica.
Sé de Braga
Braga Cathedral
Construction began around 1070 under Bishop Pedro, and the cathedral was consecrated on August 28, 1089—predating Portuguese independence by decades. Count Henry of Burgundy and his wife Teresa of León patronized its completion, and they now rest in the Capela dos Reis (Chapel of the Kings). The building mixes Romanesque foundations with Gothic, Manueline, and Baroque additions: the Romanesque south portal survives largely intact, while architect João de Castilho added the distinctive Manueline roof and towers in the sixteenth century. The magnificent twin Baroque organs dominate the high choir, their gilded splendor visible from the nave below. As the primatial cathedral of both Portugal and Spain, Braga holds unique ecclesiastical significance. The Treasury Museum displays the iron cross used by Father Henrique de Coimbra for the first Mass celebrated in Brazil following Pedro Álvares Cabral's 1500 voyage—connecting this ancient see to the evangelization of the New World. The tenth-century chalice of Saint Gerald, used at the baptism of King Afonso Henriques, and a sixteenth-century statue of Our Lady of the Milk attributed to Nicolas Chanterène rank among its treasures. The Capela da Glória retains rare Moorish-influenced geometric frescoes, while the azulejo-covered Capela de São Geraldo honors the cathedral's patron saint.
Igreja de Santa Maria Madalena da Falperra
Sanctuary of Saint Mary Magdalene of Falperra
A sixteenth-century chapel existed here before the current Baroque church was built starting in 1694. Archbishop Rodrigo de Moura Teles commissioned the work, designed by architect André Soares. Damaged in the 1755 earthquake that devastated Lisbon, Soares designed a new facade, main altar, and staircase. The granite retable-like frontage features a throne of Saint Mary Magdalene flanked by busts of Saint Martha and Saint Lazarus. Classified as a National Monument since 2017, the sanctuary offers panoramic views of Braga from the Serra da Falperra.
Mosteiro de São Martinho de Tibães
Monastery of Saint Martin of Tibães
Founded around 1060, this was the mother house of the Benedictine order in Portugal and Brazil. Feudal rights were granted by Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal, in 1110. The church's exuberant Rococo interior is a landmark in Portuguese art. Between 1757 and 1760, architect André Soares designed the main altarpiece, triumphal arch woodwork, pulpits, and lateral altarpieces. Located 6 kilometers from Braga center, Bus 50 departs from Praça Conde de Agrolongo. Open Tuesday through Sunday; EUR 4.50 admission includes monastery and gardens.
Basílica dos Congregados
Basilica of the Congregation
Designed by architect André Soares, construction began in the sixteenth century and the church was consecrated on October 27, 1717. Part of the former Convent of the Oratory, a community established in Braga in 1686, the facade features two bell towers topped with spires. In 1975, the Holy See granted it the title of Minor Basilica. Statues of Saint Philip Neri and Saint Martin of Dume were placed on the facade in 1964, honoring the patrons of this significant church in Braga's historic center.
Igreja da Misericórdia
Church of Mercy
Built between 1560 and 1562 during the time of Archbishop Frei Bartolomeu dos Mártires, this is considered the most important Renaissance legacy in Braga. Located next to the Cathedral, it was redesigned by architect Nicolau Nasoni from 1749 to 1753. The retable was completed by Marcelino de Araújo between 1734 and 1739, including a panel painted by José Lopes in 1735. Fine Renaissance elements remain in the facade and lateral entrance featuring a Visitation scene.
Igreja de São Victor
Church of Saint Victor
Built by Dom Luís de Sousa in the seventeenth century, this is one of the first churches in Portugal with Baroque elements. Construction began in 1686 and it was consecrated in 1698. The interior walls are covered by 11,700 tiles with blue paintings, attributed to Spanish artist Gabriel del Barco y Minusca. This tile technique later came to characterize Portuguese Baroque architecture throughout the country and its colonies.
Igreja de São Vicente
Church of Saint Vincent
Built in 1565 and restored in 1691, this sixteenth-century Baroque church stands on the site of a seventh-century Visigoth church dating to 656 AD. Classified as Property of Public Interest since 1986, the interior features luxurious wood carving work on the altars and azulejos on the walls. According to tradition, the original church witnessed the marriage of King Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king, making it a site of both religious and national significance.
Igreja de Santa Cruz
Church of the Holy Cross
Construction began in 1625 as part of a Jesuit college for Philosophy and Theology studies, and was completed in 1737. The church blends Mannerist and Baroque architectural styles. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portugal in 1759, it served various purposes before being restored to worship. The interior features worked stone vaults, high-quality organ and pulpits, and fine gold-leafed carving from the eighteenth century. Azulejo tile panels illustrate biblical stories.
Igreja e Convento do Pópulo
Church and Convent of Our Lady of the People
Construction began in 1596 under Archbishop Frei Agostinho de Jesus, who wished to be buried there. The facade was redesigned by renowned architect Carlos Amarante in the eighteenth century in a striking Neoclassical style. The interior features intricate blue and white tile murals depicting biblical scenes. Since 1834, the convent has housed municipal offices, but the church remains open for worship. Free visits Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.
Tesouro-Museu da Sé de Braga
Cathedral Treasury Museum
Founded in 1930 and reopened in 2007 after major renovations, this museum is housed in the former Casa do Cabido (Chapter House), an eighteenth-century building adjacent to the Cathedral. The collection consists of sacred art pieces gathered over a thousand years of Christian activity. The permanent exhibition "Roots of Eternity: Jesus Christ - A Church" features pieces depicting the life of Christ and significant moments in Church history, including goldsmithing and liturgical vestments. Open Tuesday through Sunday; summer hours 9am to 6:30pm, winter hours 9am to 5:30pm.
Museu Pio XII
Pius XII Museum
Founded in 1957 by Canon Luciano Afonso dos Santos, a priest passionate about archaeology and sacred art. The collection includes lithics, numismatics, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, painting, and goldsmithing, ranging from the Paleolithic to the Christian era. The museum includes the Medieval Tower, whose five floors document Braga's history and house the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Torre (Chapel of Our Lady of the Tower), built between 1756 and 1759 by architect André Soares as thanksgiving to the Virgin for protecting the city during the 1755 earthquake. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 6pm.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Semana Santa — March/April (Holy Week)
Braga's Holy Week is one of the most spectacular in Europe, declared of National Interest for Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011 and integrated into the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations. It draws over 100,000 visitors annually and features unique elements of the ancient Rito Bracarense. The processions begin on the Saturday before Palm Sunday and culminate with the Easter Vigil. Key events include the Procession of Our Lord's Steps on Palm Sunday afternoon, with allegorical staging depicting figures from Jesus's trial; the Procession of the Lord "Ecce Homo" on Holy Thursday evening, featuring the famous farricocos—barefooted men in purple tunics with black hoods, carrying torches and shuffling through medieval streets in eerie silence; the early morning Theophoric Procession on Good Friday, an exclusive element of Bracarense liturgy carrying the Blessed Sacrament enclosed in a coffin draped in black; and the solemn Procession of Our Lord's Burial on Good Friday evening.
Pentecost Sunday — Seventh Sunday after Easter
Thousands of pilgrims flock to Bom Jesus do Monte during Pentecost. The tradition involves climbing the Baroque stairway on hands and knees in penance. As pilgrims ascend the 577 steps, they encounter chapels with terra cotta sculptures of Christ's Passion, fountains representing the Five Senses, and finally the Stairway of the Three Virtues.
Corpus Christi — Thursday after Trinity Sunday (June)
Braga celebrates Corpus Christi with exceptional solemnity. The streets are transformed with elaborate flower carpets (tapetes)—artistic creations made from colored sawdust, coffee grounds, stones, flour, sand, and flower petals with Eucharistic themes. The procession from the Cathedral runs through every corner of the historic center, accompanied by the scent of flowers filling the narrow medieval streets.
Festas de São João de Braga — June 17-24
The oldest Sanjoanina festival in Portugal, born in 1150 when a church dedicated to Saint John was founded in the city. This is Braga's patronal feast and June 24th is a regional holiday. The religious procession carrying an image of the saint through the streets is accompanied by faithful, philharmonic bands, and scout groups. The city infuses celebrations with a strong religious component due to its status as the "Portuguese Rome."
Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Sameiro — First Sunday of June
Tens of thousands of faithful from throughout the Archdiocese of Braga gather at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro for this major Marian pilgrimage, with outdoor Mass celebrated before the basilica's monumental staircase. Pilgrims process with candles and banners from parishes across northern Portugal.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
One of the major Marian feast days at the Sanctuary of Sameiro, marked by processions, solemn masses, and religious celebrations that draw thousands of pilgrims to venerate the statue of Our Lady blessed by Pope Pius IX.
Statutory Pilgrimage — Third Sunday of August
This traditional pilgrimage begins at Bom Jesus do Monte and processes to the Sanctuary of Sameiro, uniting the two hilltop sanctuaries in a single devotional journey. The feast recalls the Assumption of Mary and draws pilgrims who walk the woodland path between the sanctuaries.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception — December 8
The most important feast day at the Sanctuary of Sameiro, as the sanctuary is entirely dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The celebration commemorates Pope Pius IX's 1854 dogmatic definition that inspired Father Martinho to establish the sanctuary in 1863. Processions, solemn masses, and religious celebrations draw pilgrims from across Portugal.
Presépio Vivo de Priscos — December
The largest live nativity scene in Europe, organized in the parish of Priscos near Braga since 2006. Approximately 30,000 square meters is filled with over 90 settings tracing back to Egyptian, Jewish, Roman, Assyrian, Greek, and Babylonian cultures. Around 800 extras bring the story to life, with period trades recreated: blacksmiths forging iron, shoemakers mending sandals, potters molding clay, bakers kneading bread. An immersive experience walking through biblical times.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hotel do Elevador ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Nestled at the summit beside the Bom Jesus funicular, this nineteenth-century hotel offers panoramic views over Braga from its restaurant terrace. The intimate property features 22 rooms decorated in classic Portuguese style. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hotel do Parque ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Located within the Bom Jesus park, this elegant hotel combines traditional architecture with modern amenities including a piano bar and spa facilities. Its peaceful setting amid the sanctuary gardens provides an ideal base for pilgrims. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hotel do Templo ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — A contemporary four-star option near Bom Jesus featuring an indoor heated pool, Turkish bath, hot tub, and sunbathing terrace. Modern rooms offer comfort after days of pilgrimage. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hotel João Paulo II ⭐⭐⭐ — Named for the pope who visited Sameiro in 1982, this hotel serves as the sanctuary's Apostolic Center. Surrounded by green spaces within the Sameiro complex, it particularly welcomes pilgrims attending the major feast days and solemn celebrations. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport lies approximately 55 kilometers south of Braga, with regular bus and train connections to the city. Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport is about 360 kilometers south, connected by high-speed rail and domestic flights to Porto.
By Train: Braga Station sits at the terminus of a commuter line from Porto (São Bento and Campanhã stations), with trains departing frequently throughout the day. The journey takes approximately one hour. From Lisbon, travelers take the high-speed Alfa Pendular to Porto and change for Braga.
By Bus: Rede Expressos operates direct services between Lisbon and Braga (approximately four hours) and from Porto (about one hour). The Braga bus terminal is located near the city center.
By Car: From Porto, take the A3 motorway north directly to Braga (approximately 50 kilometers). From Lisbon, follow the A1 to Porto and continue on the A3. Parking is available at the Bom Jesus summit and near Sameiro.
Local Transport: City bus Line 2 from Avenida da Liberdade in central Braga runs to Bom Jesus do Monte approximately every 30 minutes (hourly on Sundays). Bus Line 23 serves the Sanctuary of Sameiro. Bus Line 50 from Praça Conde de Agrolongo serves the Monastery of Tibães. A woodland walking path connects Bom Jesus to Sameiro (approximately 20 minutes).
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Carlos Costa Martins. A New History of Braga: The Making of Portugal — Comprehensive history from Roman governors through modern times, with significant coverage of the Cathedral's importance as a symbol of continuity, power, and education.
Fr. Louis of Granada. Life of Dom Bartholomew of the Martyrs — Biography of the Dominican Archbishop of Braga (1559-1582) who was a key figure at the Council of Trent, providing insight into sixteenth-century Catholic reform.
John Brierley. A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Portugues — The definitive guidebook for walking the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, with spiritual guidelines for the inner journey.
Joao D'Azevedo Coutinho & Pereira Caldas. Bom Jesus Do Monte — Detailed historical description of the sanctuary presenting its architecture, chapels, religious celebrations, and traditions.
Online Resources:
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte — UNESCO World Heritage Site listing with detailed description of outstanding universal value.
Semana Santa de Braga — Official Holy Week website with procession schedules and historical background.
Braga Cathedral — Official Visit Portugal guide to the primatial cathedral.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Curious Braga — PBS documentary exploring Braga as Portugal's oldest city, featuring Bom Jesus do Monte with its 600 steps and water-powered funicular, and Braga Cathedral. (28 minutes)
Virtual Tour of Bom Jesus Basilica — Interactive virtual tour of the sanctuary's interior, allowing exploration of the Baroque basilica designed by Carlos Amarante. (Confraria do Bom Jesus do Monte)
Cathedral of Braga 360° Tour — 15 immersive 360-degree panoramas for viewing on computer, tablet, or VR headset. (Santiago Ribas, 360portugal)
🔗 Useful Links
Visit Braga — Official Braga municipality tourism portal.
Archdiocese of Braga — Official archdiocesan website with pilgrimage information.
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte — Official sanctuary website with visiting hours and event calendar.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro — Official sanctuary website with Mass times and pilgrimage information.
Presépio Vivo de Priscos — Official website for Europe's largest live nativity scene.
Porto Airport — Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport information and transport links.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Fátima (200 km) — Portugal's most important pilgrimage destination, where Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. The vast Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima draws millions annually.
Coimbra (150 km) — Home to the Monastery of Santa Cruz where Portugal's first two kings are entombed, and the Carmelite convent where Sister Lúcia of Fátima lived and is buried.
Santiago de Compostela (160 km) — The great medieval pilgrimage goal across the Spanish border in Galicia, shrine of Saint James the Apostle and terminus of the Camino de Santiago.
Guimarães (25 km) — Birthplace of Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, with the Romanesque Church of São Miguel do Castelo where tradition holds he was baptized. A UNESCO World Heritage city.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"In the history of Braga, the Church has occupied a prominent place, giving the city its characteristic appearance and guiding the spiritual life of its people through the centuries." — Pope John Paul II, Meeting with Bishops of Portugal, May 15, 1982
