Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré tickets: which one to buy

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazare stands on the main square of the Sitio, the upper part of the fishing town of Nazare, on a clifftop about a hundred metres above the beach, and entry to the church is free; a small fee gives access to the area behind the altar where the venerated image is kept, and to a small museum of religious objects. Nazare is about an hour and a half north of Lisbon, and day tours often combine it with Fatima, Batalha, Alcobaca and Obidos.

A funicular, running since 1889, links the lower town and beach with the Sitio in a few minutes, and it is the easiest way up. The Sitio's square is lined with stalls selling dried fish, nuts and souvenirs, and the viewpoint at the cliff edge gives the classic panorama of the beach. The famous big-wave surf at Praia do Norte is a short walk from the Sitio. The funicular runs every few minutes from early morning until late evening.

Visiting Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré: what to see

The sanctuary is linked with a legend from 1182: a nobleman, Dom Fuas Roupinho, was hunting a deer in the fog on the clifftop when the animal leapt over the edge; he called on the Virgin, and his horse stopped at the very brink, saving his life. In gratitude he built a small chapel, the Ermida da Memoria, over a grotto where a statue of the Virgin had been hidden; the tiny chapel, decorated with blue tiles, still stands at the edge of the cliff and is worth a visit.

The larger church was built in the seventeenth century and remodelled later, with a baroque facade and twin towers. Inside, the walls are decorated with Dutch tiles showing biblical scenes, and the gilded altar frames the small dark statue of Our Lady of Nazare, which is said to be very old. The nave is decorated with carved wood and paintings of the legend. The camarim behind the altar is a small room decorated with tiles and gilding, from which the statue can be seen close up. The museum displays gifts from pilgrims, including offerings from fishermen saved at sea.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily. Summer is the busiest season in Nazare, with beachgoers and visitors, and the Sitio is crowded in the afternoon. The pilgrimage festival of Our Lady of Nazare in early September brings processions, fairs and bullfights to the Sitio. In winter, from October to March, the giant waves at Praia do Norte attract surfers and spectators, especially during big swells, and the lighthouse fort nearby is the viewing point.

Local women sometimes wear the traditional seven skirts. Allow about half an hour for the church and the Ermida, and add time for the view and the walk to the lighthouse. The Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo lighthouse holds a small exhibition about the giant waves and the surfers who ride them.