Description of the attraction
The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monti is located in the vicinity of Tenoes, on a hilltop, near the town of Braga. The Sanctuary is a popular pilgrimage site for Catholics who begin their ascent to the sanctuary from the monumental baroque zigzag staircase, which is 116 m long.
The first mention of the chapel on this peak dates back to 1373. In the XV-XVI 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 assisted in the construction of the second zigzag staircase, on which there are fountains with figures symbolizing the Five Senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. 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 are four Baroque fountains decorated with statues depicting the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
In 1781, Bishop Gaspard built a third flight of stairs and a church. The third span is also zigzagged 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.
Reviews
| All reviews 5 pisanka 12.04.2013 22:13:52
unexpected trip I got on the excursion quite by accident, but I was not disappointed. The impression that Sanctuary made on me is even difficult to convey. the beauty of the lines, almost perfect masonry that has been preserved despite the past tense - I strongly recommend to everyone who has not been there yet. You will not regret spending …
