Trip to Monte de Santa Luzia | Portugal

Continuing the previous itinerary that we started with the historical center of Viana do Castelo, in this municipality located on the north coast of Portugal, next to the Lima river.
It is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful cities in the northern region of Portugal, and you can see it in the photos I shared in the previous post.

Viana do Castelo is located about 390km from Lisbon and approximately 100km from Porto, in a municipality bordering Spain.
Like many other Portuguese cities, Viana has a very ancient origin, dating back to the Iron Age and we can find proof of that time in a citânia (archaeological site) located on Monte de Santa Luzia " Santa Luzia Mountain", in a strategic position that allowed direct observation of the entrances movement and boat departures at the shorts of Lima River and the territorial domain of the region.
Viana has always had its history linked to the sea, being one of the main ports in Portugal.

But leaving aside the history of the city, we will go up to Monte de Santa Luzia to visit the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Luzia and enjoy one of the most charming views in Portugal.
It is possible to go up to the Sanctuary via a staircase, funicular or by car up the road, having been the 3rd option chosen, the time was not long and we had to choose the fastest way to do it, although it is much more interesting climb up the staircase or using the funicular, which with 650m of trails, is the longest funicular journey in Portugal, with a duration of 6 to 7 minutes.

Already at the top with 220m altitude, we face the beautiful Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Luzia, one of the main postcards of northern Portugal and one of the most emblematic places in the country! When reference is made to Viana do Castelo, it is certain that one of the first images to illustrate something about the city is this church inspired by the Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre in Paris, the church is a very impressive work!
Project initiated by the architect Miguel Ventura Terra in 1904 and continued by the architect Miguel Nogueira in 1919 after the death of Miguel Ventura, having completed the exterior part in 1943 and the interior part in 1959.

The temple is one of the main examples of revivalist architecture, with Neo-Roman, Neo-Byzantine and Neo-Gothic elements, Byzantine features highlighted by the plant in the shape of a Greek cross, Gothic style in the 3 rosettes and Romanesque elements represented by the main dome and the secondary domes of the four towers.

Of course i had to climb to the highest point of the church to Zimbório, using an internal elevator and from there take some pictures and try on my new lens ☺
The climb is not advisable for those suffering from claustrophobia or fear of heights, since the staircase is extremely tight and at certain points on the route there are traffic lights to regulate the passage, as there is not enough space to pass more than one person at a time.

At the top it is possible to observe the Lima River meeting the Atlantic Ocean, the Port of Viana, the beaches, the São Tiago da Barra Fort, the Eiffel Bridge (where trains pass), the historic city center ...! It is a unique sight that will surely make you fall in love with the city, before you even know it!

That's all for today

See you on the next trip.

Thank you for watching :)

All photos presented in this article are my own

@aleister