Braga is one of the oldest cities in Portugal, located in the north of the country. Its history dates back to the 1st century A.D. and is considered as one of the world’s oldest Christian cities. Among the most famous historic buildings of Braga there is the church of Good Jesus from the Mountain (Bom Jesus do Monte), which can be reached through high granite stairs. The bottom part of the stairway is Calvary with the Stations of the Cross, crowned with the fountain symbolizing Christ’s wounds. In the middle of the monumental stairway there are statues symbolizing the Five Senses, whereas in the top part there are eight statues of people who condemned Jesus, including Pontius Pilate and Herodotus. The faithful climb up the stairs on their knees in order to atone for sins and implore God’s mercy. Tourists may also use an electric funicular to reach the mountain on top of which the church was built.
