Bom Jesus - A Million Visitors per Year

The Bom Jesus sanctuary in Braga, Portugal receives over a million visitors every year, but not all are catholic.  "There are all kinds of tourist who want to see Bom Jesus, especially in the summer," said João Varanda, lead of the local brotherhood that manages the site.

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The monumental staircase that lies at the front of Bom Jesus is a crown jewel of Braga, located in Tenoes, a parish on the outskirts of Braga.  Starting from the 200 year old portico at the bottom, the 248 steps lead up to the top of the mount where the sanctuary of Bom Jesus sits, making up one of the most unique and best example of Baroque style architecture in all of Europe.

In order to allow the faithful to follow a simulated trip into Palestine, the church has built 14 stations of the cross along the crossing staircase, while higher up sits the monumental staircase of Five Senses and staircase of Three Virtues, before arriving at the church itself, designed by Carlos Amarante, at the top of the hill.  Along the primary stairway are eight statues representing characters involved in the conviction, passion and death of Jesus Christ: Annas, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Pilate again and the Centurion.