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All Portugal Nossa Senhora da Boa Estrela (Our Lady of the Good Star)

Nossa Senhora da Boa Estrela (Our Lady of the Good Star)

A small sanctuary carved into the mountainside near the tallest point in continental Portugal.

Unhais da Serra, Portugal

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Hanna V.
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Our Lady of the Beautiful Star   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lady in the fog   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Overview of the sanctuary in the fog   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
The sanctuary   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Glimpse of the sanctuary   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Small overpass in the road   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Crooked cross   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
People climbing the stairs   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Rocks (human for size)   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Alien landscape   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Corner of the road   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Rocks in the fog   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
Corner before the sanctuary (coming from Covilha)   Vrielinkie / Atlas Obscura User
June 2024 on the way to Serra da Estrela  
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About

This little sanctuary in the mountains is a very well-kept secret. If you blink while driving along this road in the mountain range of Serra da Estrela, you'll miss this place. Granted, the views are so amazing here (it's the highest mountain on the Portuguese mainland), that even if you know it's there you might miss it.

Just before you reach de Torre de Estrella, which is the highest point, you can spot this statue in a cove. The statue was placed in 1946 and made by António Duarte, a local priest. He wanted to honor the local shepherds because they had a hard job guiding their flocks in these mountains, due to the harsh weather conditions. The statue is seven meters (23 feet) tall and was meant to offer protection.

However, the sanctuary does have an associated festival and pilgrimage. Every year on the second Sunday in August people (mainly locals) come here and listen to mass and place flowers at the stone carved cross by Manuel Figueiredo.

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Shrines Mountains Sanctuaries

Know Before You Go

The sanctuary is about 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) away from the Torre da Estrella. When coming from the side of Covilha, you'll be driving over a small overpass in a corner and then you'll see a small parking sign on your right. Park there and the sanctuary is right across from it. From the other side, you'll be coming out of a corner and there will be a small parking sign as well.

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Vrielinkie

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manuelafernandes02

  • manuelafernandes02

Published

July 20, 2022

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  • https://www.tapaaosal.pt/nossa-senhora-da-boa-estrela/
  • https://www.vortexmag.net/nossa-senhora-da-boa-estrela-o-segredo-mais-bem-guardado-da-serra-da-estrela/
Nossa Senhora da Boa Estrela (Our Lady of the Good Star)
N339
Unhais da Serra
Portugal
40.323038, -7.602109
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