Braga and Bom Jesus do Monte

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sanctuary Of Bom Jesus Do Monte In Braga (2019) The Baroque Zigzag Stairway And The 1882 Water Balanced Funicular · Braga, Braga

Braga is Portugal's religious capital, a lively student city in the Minho often called the Rome of Portugal for its churches, and the hill of Bom Jesus do Monte above it is one of the great baroque pilgrimage sites of Europe. From the woods at the bottom, a zigzag stairway climbs roughly 116 m past chapels of the Passion, fountains of the Five Senses and terraces of the Three Virtues to a neoclassical church finished in 1811; the sanctuary became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. Beside the steps runs a water-balanced funicular of 1882, said to be the oldest of its kind still working on its original system. Pilgrims still climb the stairs, some on their knees. In the city below are the Se, often said to be the oldest cathedral in Portugal, the blue-tiled Raio Palace, the Garden of Santa Barbara and some of the country's grandest Holy Week processions. The honest caveat: Bom Jesus is 5 km out of town and needs a bus or taxi, and in Holy Week and at Sao Joao the city fills and rooms sell out.

Santuario do Bom Jesus do Monte, Tenoes, on the hill about 5 km east of Braga city centre, Braga, Braga, Portugal

The stairway, the park and the grounds of Bom Jesus are open daily and free; the church opens roughly from morning to early evening, closing during services. The funicular runs daily with longer summer hours but may pause at midday or for maintenance - check at the base station. In the city, the Se treasury and several museums close on Mondays - confirm. City bus line 2 runs from the centre to the foot of the stairs in about 20 minutes (confirm). CP trains reach Braga from Porto in about 1 hour. Book rooms months ahead for Holy Week and Sao Joao.

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