Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios

Above the town of Lamego, the Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios rises in terraces on the hillside. Its monumental staircase — decorated with azulejos, fountains and statues — leads pilgrims and visitors up to the church, in one of the most theatrical settings of the Portuguese baroque.

History and character

The sanctuary was built in the eighteenth century, when Lamego was already a great centre of devotion to Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. The long staircase that climbs the hill was enriched over the following century with tiles, sculptures and fountains, and the sanctuary remains the goal of a traditional pilgrimage, held each year in early September.

O que ver

• The great staircase, with its flights, statues and azulejo panels.
• The fountains and terraces along the climb.
• The baroque church, at the top of the hill.
• The views over Lamego and the surrounding country.

Visiting

The sanctuary stands on the Monte de Santo Estêvão, above Lamego, in northern Portugal, reached by road — the staircase itself is climbed on foot. The sanctuary is an active place of worship, and its pilgrimage season, in early September, fills the stairway with pilgrims; check municipal pages before your visit.

Nearby

The sanctuary overlooks Lamego and, beyond it, the Vale do Douro with its terraced vineyards.

Information: cm-lamego.pt.

Image credit: Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, Lamego, by Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.