Bom Jesus do Monte is the great landmark of Braga — a Baroque sanctuary set on a wooded hillside above the city, and one of the most spectacular religious sites in Portugal. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
The sanctuary is famous above all for its monumental stairway, which climbs the hillside in a series of dramatic zigzags. The Stairway of the Five Senses, with its walls, fountains, statues and ornamental detail, is the most emblematic Baroque work of the site. The whole ensemble was conceived as a Via Crucis — a path representing the Passion of Christ — leading up to the church at the summit, which was built between 1784 and 1811.
Alongside the stairway runs a water-powered funicular, opened in 1882, the first of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula and the oldest still operating in the world. Visitors can climb the steps or take the funicular, and at the top find the church, gardens, a grotto and wide views over Braga. The site has drawn pilgrims and visitors for centuries.
Highlights
- A UNESCO-listed Baroque sanctuary above Braga
- Famous for its monumental zigzag stairway
- The Stairway of the Five Senses, with fountains and statues
- A water-powered funicular of 1882, oldest of its kind
- Wide views over Braga from the summit
History & context
The hill of Bom Jesus has been a site of devotion since at least the fourteenth century, with a chapel recorded in 1373. The sanctuary as it is known today began in 1722, on the initiative of Archbishop Rodrigo de Moura Teles, who ordered the building of the Via Crucis and the chapels. The monumental stairway was built through the eighteenth century, and the church at the summit between 1784 and 1811. The water-powered funicular opened in 1882. The sanctuary was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Spring and autumn for mild weather; mornings are quieter on the stairway.
⏱️ Duration
2–3 hours
♿ Accessibility
Limited on the stairway; the water-powered funicular offers step-free access to the summit area.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Bom Jesus do Monte famous?
It is a UNESCO-listed Baroque sanctuary above Braga, famous for its monumental zigzag stairway and hilltop church.
Can you take the funicular up?
Yes. A water-powered funicular, opened in 1882, runs alongside the stairway — the oldest funicular of its kind still operating.
How many steps does the stairway have?
The Baroque stairway climbs the wooded hillside in a series of zigzags, with several hundred steps up to the church.