SÍTIO DISTRICT
Sítio is a cliff-top village with a lighthouse. Legend has it that the statue of the Virgin Mary, brought back from Nazareth, was found here.
At the top of the cliff, it offers a more than breathtaking view. This district is very popular with believers. Legend has it that it was in the Sítio that the statue of the Virgin brought back from Nazareth - Nossa Senhora de Nazaré - was found, having been hidden away in the 18th century. Dom Fuas Roupinho, a noble knight, is also said to have seen the Virgin on a foggy morning in 1182, while chasing a galloping stag. The stag had just fallen from the cliff, and the knight, caught up in a frantic gallop, implored the Virgin not to fall too. The miracle happened: the horse stopped just in time. In homage to the Virgin, Dom Fuas Roupinho had the Hermida da Memoria chapel built on the edge of the precipice. Don't miss the walk to the lighthouse for another viewpoint. In the evening, as the sun sets, the view is breathtaking, and the atmosphere is very special, as if out of time. You can let yourself contemplate the infinite movement of the sea, a place where you can feel the soul of this land...
It's also where visitors can watch professional surfers challenge the huge waves during periods of heavy swell. When this happens, be careful not to get too close.
You can reach the Sítio district by funicular, which runs every 15 minutes from 7.15 a.m. to 9.30 p.m., and every 30 minutes from 9.30 p.m. to midnight (€2.50 one way; €4 return). Until 2 a.m. in summer. Departure from rua do Elevador.
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