Just outside Braga, Bom Jesus do Monte is one of the most impressive religious sites in northern Portugal.
Most people recognise the famous staircase, but the sanctuary is much more than that.
It was developed over more than 600 years on the slopes of Mount Espinho and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
⛪ The famous staircase
From the main portico to the churchyard there are 573 steps.
The climb is divided into different sections, with chapels, statues and fountains along the way. One of the best-known parts is the Staircase of the Five Senses, where fountains represent sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
It was designed as more than simply a way to reach the church. The climb forms part of a religious route leading gradually up the mountain.
And, of course, the views get better as you climb.
🚋 Don't want to climb 573 steps?
There is another option, and it is almost as interesting as the staircase.
The Bom Jesus funicular opened in 1882 and was the first funicular built in the Iberian Peninsula.
Even more interesting, it still operates using its original water counterbalance system, making it the oldest funicular in service in the world using this system.
So my suggestion would actually be:
Take the funicular up and walk down the staircase.
That way you experience both.
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