The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré — the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré — stands on the broad square of the Sítio clifftop, and is the spiritual heart of the town.
The sanctuary holds the venerated statue of Our Lady of Nazaré, a small, dark medieval image of the Virgin and Child. The town's very name is tied to this statue, said by tradition to have come from Nazareth. The sanctuary is bound to a famous medieval legend: in 1182, the nobleman Dom Fuas Roupinho, hunting a deer in fog, was carried to the very edge of the cliff, and was saved — so the story goes — by the intervention of Our Lady. The tiny Hermitage of Memory, nearby, marks the spot.
The present church is largely Baroque, with a single nave and a gilded high altar where the statue is enthroned, and walls lined with fine eighteenth-century blue-and-white azulejos. For the visitor, the sanctuary is both a place of devotion and a key to the story of Nazaré itself.
Highlights
- The Baroque sanctuary on the Sítio clifftop
- Holds the venerated statue of Our Lady of Nazaré
- Tied to the medieval legend of Dom Fuas Roupinho
- A gilded high altar and eighteenth-century azulejos
- The statue that gave the town its name
History & context
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré is tied to a medieval legend: in 1182, the nobleman Dom Fuas Roupinho was said to have been saved at the cliff edge by the intervention of Our Lady, and the Hermitage of Memory was built to mark the spot. The venerated statue of Our Lady of Nazaré, a small dark medieval image, is held to have come from Nazareth, and gave the town its name. The present sanctuary is largely Baroque, with a gilded high altar and eighteenth-century azulejos.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Any time of year. The sanctuary is busiest around its September festival in honour of Our Lady.
⏱️ Duration
30–45 minutes
♿ Accessibility
Moderate. The sanctuary is on the level Sítio square; the church has a step at the entrance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré?
It is the Baroque sanctuary on the Sítio clifftop, holding the venerated medieval statue of Our Lady of Nazaré.
What is the legend of Nazaré?
In 1182, the nobleman Dom Fuas Roupinho was said to have been saved at the cliff edge by Our Lady; the Hermitage of Memory marks the spot.
Why is the town called Nazaré?
The name comes from the venerated statue of Our Lady of Nazaré, said by tradition to have been brought from Nazareth.