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Lisbon · Sights & Landmarks

The Santuário Nacional de Cristo Rei is a Catholic monument and shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It stands on a cliff in Almada, on the southern bank of the Tagus, about 133 metres above the river, with its arms stretched out toward Lisbon. A 28-metre statue of Christ rises from a 75-metre pedestal shaped like a gate, and the whole monument is roughly 110 metres tall. The address is Cristo Rei, 2800-694 Almada. The idea took shape in 1934, when the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon saw the statue in Rio de Janeiro and was inspired to create a similar monument in Portugal. In 1940, at a meeting of the Portuguese bishops in Fátima, the church vowed to build a monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, asking that Portugal be spared the war then sweeping Europe. Lisbon stayed neutral and escaped the bombings that destroyed other European capitals, which Catholics saw as a blessing. The monument became a symbol of thanksgiving. It was unveiled in 1959 after several years of planning and construction, seven years before the 25 de Abril Bridge was inaugurated. That bridge can be seen right below. Pope Benedict XVI visited on the monument's 50th anniversary. To reach the observation deck, visitors take an elevator and then climb narrow, tower-like stairs for the last stretch. Views of Lisbon, the river and the 25 de Abril Bridge open up from the deck and from the terrace at the foot of the monument. One guide says you can almost touch the bridge from the terrace by the pedestal. The panorama runs from Belém in the west to the Vasco da Gama Bridge in the east, and on a clear day it reaches the coast of Cascais. Foggy, cloudy or rainy days are best avoided. The base holds a chapel at ground level. Beside the elevator, the Capela dos Confidentes do Coração de Jesus displays four ancient relics that belonged to four saints devoted to the Sacred Heart. Inside the base, the Capela do Santíssimo was renovated in 2006 and has a bronze sacrarium. Mass can still be attended there. The surroundings have been landscaped, with benches, new sculptures and a tall cross brought from Fátima. Walkers can follow the waterfront to the Ponto Final restaurant, turn left, climb the rainbow steps and follow the signs. The terrace by the pedestal is free. Going to the top costs €6.00 from July to October and €5.00 the rest of the year, and children between 8 and 12 pay €2.50. The site is not covered by the Lisboa Card and opens every day. Buses from Cacilhas also run to the beaches of Costa da Caparica.