Porto Alegre · BR

Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes

Tucked into a green slope on the southern edge of Porto Alegre, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes has been a place of pilgrimage, prayer, and quiet contemplation since 1935. Modeled on the famous cave in Lourdes, France, this rustic stone shrine sits within an environmental preservation zone beside a small waterfall, offering visitors a rare pocket of serenity within a Brazilian city of 1.4 million. Though not a major tourist monument, the grotto carries deep emotional weight for devotees from across Rio Grande do Sul. Thousands come each May for a traditional pilgrimage, and on any given day you'll find people lighting candles, leaving thank-you plaques, or simply sitting among the trees to collect their thoughts. The site reopened in late 2022 after a full renovation funded entirely by donations from the faithful.