The Curious Ex-Voto Museum at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lapa
Located in the municipality of Sernancelhe, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lapa is one of the oldest and most important pilgrimage sites in Portugal. In addition to its religious significance, the sanctuary houses a fascinating cultural space: the Ex-Voto Museum. This museum holds a unique collection of objects that tell stories of faith and survival over the centuries.
An ex-voto is an object offered by a believer to a saint or the Virgin Mary as a way of giving thanks for a miracle or a grace received. These objects can be paintings, wax figures, photographs, or even clothing. They represent difficult moments when people believed they received divine help to overcome serious illnesses, shipwrecks, or dangerous accidents.
One of the pieces that most attracts the attention of visitors in the museum is a painted altarpiece depicting the episode of the "stabbed man." This painting shows Our Lady surrounded by seven figures, including a man who survived a violent knife attack. The work is an impressive example of how folk art was used to document dramatic events and the deep gratitude of the survivors.
A visit to the museum allows tourists and scholars to better understand the culture and folk traditions of Portugal. Each piece on display has a personal and emotional story behind it, serving as a testimony to the daily life of past eras. It is a rare opportunity to see how religion and social history intersected through simple yet very powerful artistic representations.
The Ex-Voto Museum is, therefore, a mandatory stop for anyone visiting the Douro and Beira Alta region. More than a place of worship, it is a historical archive that preserves the memory of ordinary people and their moments of greatest distress. The visit offers a true journey through time through Portuguese folk art and devotion.