Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios – Our Lady of teh Remedies

Classification: IIP - Property of  Public Interest.
 
Built on top of the Mount of Santo Estevão, the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios is, like Bom Jesus in Braga, one of the most important Baroque pilgrimage churches in the country. It was ordered to be built in response to the growing needs of the faithful seeking the protection of Our Lady of the Remedies, whose image had been brought from Rome by the Bishop of Lamego, D. Manuel de Noronha. The first stone was cast in 1750, and the works took about eleven years to complete.
 
The monumental staircase dates from 1777, when Bishop Manuel de Vasconcelos Pereira hired the stonemason Manuel Faustino Loureiro to build it. It comprises several flights and landings, with various fountains and sculptures, amongst which is the Patio of the Kings. The staircase was not finished until much later, in the 20th century. Although the architect of the church is unknown, it has been attributed to Nicolau Nasoni. However, the authorship has been the subject of some disagreement, and recent studies have suggested the name of António Pereira, the architect and master-builder who was working with Nasoni on the Cathedral in Lamego as the possible designer of this Sanctuary.