Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Aires
The Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Aires is a small shrine in Viana do Alentejo featuring simple white walls and modest design. Its interior contains an ornate golden canopy above the altar and a stone statue of the Virgin Mary dating from the late 1400s or early 1500s.
The shrine was designed in the 1740s by Father João Baptista and completed around 1792 after 13 devotees from Évora requested a larger church. The first major pilgrimage began in 1748 when local traders made a promise during an epidemic.
Our Lady of Aires is a figure of devotion deeply rooted in local spiritual life. Visitors today can see how people light candles and leave flowers at the altar, reflecting a tradition that continues to define community practice.
The shrine is located close to the center of Viana do Alentejo and is easily accessible for a short visit. The best times to visit are September when a major fair and procession take place, or April when the traditional horse pilgrimage occurs.
An ancient stone figure of the Virgin Mary, possibly from a convent that closed in 1544, sits above the altar. This connection to a lost convent adds hidden historical depth to the shrine.
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