Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Braga > Póvoa de Lanhoso > Porto de Ave
The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora de Porto de Ave is located in the locality of Porto de Ave, parish of Taíde, belonging to the municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso. It is built on a south-facing hillside, with the Church at the foot of the hill and developing with its staircase and chapels up the hill, following the course of the River Ave which flows nearby.
The history of this sanctuary dates back to the early 18th century. It is said that, in 1730, an old image of Our Lady of the Rosary, found in poor condition in the parish church, was about to be removed. A local schoolmaster, Francisco Magalhães Machado, asked to keep it and built a small oratory near his home.
Miracles were quickly associated with the image, leading to an increase in popular devotion and the Virgin becoming known as "Our Lady of Miracles". The small oratory gave way to a stone chapel in 1734. Due to the growing number of pilgrims, the Archbishop of Braga ordered the enlargement of the building in 1744, giving rise to the current complex with the church and the monumental staircase. In 1874, the Sanctuary was elevated to the category of Royal Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary is a remarkable Baroque religious complex. The Church, with its facade flanked by bell towers, marks the beginning of the journey. Inside, the nave stands out for the full covering of its walls with magnificent Joanine azulejos in blue and white from the 18th century, which illustrate passages from the life of the Virgin Mary and the birth of Jesus. The altars display rich Baroque and Rococo giltwood carving, creating an environment of great artistic richness. The ceilings of the nave and chancel are decorated with painted coffers.
From the churchyard, an impressive double staircase begins, winding up the hillside through landings. Along this staircase, a Way of the Cross is organized, consisting of eight chapels. Each chapel houses life-size sculptural groups representing important moments in the life of the Virgin. An interesting detail is the church's location at the beginning of the ascending path, unlike what happens in other staircase sanctuaries. On one of the upper landings, there is a fountain decorated with the figure of a putto and a pelican.
The complex also includes a museum space dedicated to popular sacred art. There, one can observe a vast collection of ex-votos, mostly paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. These paintings are testimonies of the devotees' faith, representing the graces achieved through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and offering an insight into local beliefs and customs over time.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.5572281,-8.2223453
Coordinates DMS: 41°33'26.0"N 08°13'20.4"W
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