Bom Jesus do Monte

In the city of shrines, the Bom Jesus de Braga is a majestic monument, combining the work of nature with the remarkable work of man, in one of André Soares' distinctive constructions.
The architectural complex of Bom Jesus do Monte is perhaps the most pompous, inspiring and colossal sacro-monte erected in Europe and where religious, baroque, rococo and neoclassical architecture predominate. It has a water-powered funicular - the first to be built on the Iberian Peninsula - and a staircase, with more than 500 steps leading to the top of the hill, lined with fountains and baroque statues.
With its staircases surrounded by a centuries-old hill, Bom Jesus has a history dating back to the 14th century. However, the site, as we know it today, was created in 1722 on the initiative of D. Rodrigo de Moura Teles, who designed the current Sanctuary and ordered the construction of the Chapels of the Way of the Cross, the Portico and the Stairways of the Five Senses. The ever-increasing flow of pilgrims, who still walk to Bom Jesus today, led Archbishop Gaspar de Bragança to entrust Carlos Amarante with the task of designing a new basilica in 1784. The work was completed in 1811, giving life to one of the first Portuguese neoclassical buildings.

But beyond the incredible staircases, the old funicular and the imposing Basilica, Bom Jesus is much more than a religious site: it's romantic and perfect for socializing, thanks to its gardens, the wishing grotto or the lake that invites you to take a rowing boat ride.
This is also where a popular expression comes from: "seeing Braga through a straw". The so-called "canudo" is a monocle that can be found at Bom Jesus and provides a detailed view of the city of Braga.