Santuário do Sameiro

High above Braga, the Santuário do Sameiro is one of the most important Marian shrines in Portugal. Its church, with a tall dome and a monumental staircase, stands on a wooded hill with wide views over the city, and draws pilgrims from across the country.

A shrine above Braga

The sanctuary was begun in 1863, after the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed, and has been enlarged several times since. Together with the nearby Bom Jesus do Monte, it forms one of the great religious landscapes of northern Portugal.

What to see

• The church, with its dome and its image of Our Lady of Sameiro.
• The monumental staircase and the monument to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
• Views over Braga and the surrounding valleys.
• The wooded park around the sanctuary.

Visiting the sanctuary

The sanctuary is on the Sameiro hill, a short drive or bus ride from the centre of Braga. Access is generally open during daylight hours; for details, check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: sameiro.pt.

Image credit: Santuário do Sameiro, Braga, by Tournasol7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.