History
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
A devotional grotto built in 1950 on the way to Praia da Vigia, with statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette, gardens and a view of the bay.
From the Residencial: About 16.1 km by car
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Photos: PREFEITURA DE GAROPABA (opens in a new tab); Garopaba Por Aí (@garopabaporai_tv) (opens in a new tab).
The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto was built in 1950 to fulfill a vow, and was restored and rededicated in 2005. It is on Rua São Joaquim, the street that runs from São Joaquim Church, in the Historic Center, toward Praia da Vigia, facing Praia da Preguiça.
A stairway leads up to the grotto, with statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette, a plaque with the prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes and gardens overlooking Garopaba bay. Next to it, the faithful leave thanks for prayers answered: photos, ribbons, chains, bracelets, vow boxes and small statues, from Garopaba and from cities such as Florianópolis, Criciúma, Joinville, Porto Alegre and Curitiba.
Points of interest
- Staircase and gardens: overlooking Garopaba bay.
- Preguiça Beach: right in front.
- Escadinha Beach: a few minutes' walk away.
- Garopaba Historic Center: the grotto is on the street leading from the church.
- Vigia Beach: at the end of the same street.
Getting there
On foot from downtown: from São Joaquim Church, follow Rua São Joaquim toward Praia da Vigia; the grotto is by the street, up its stairway. Open every day, free entry.
Features
An open-air place of prayer and quiet, with a stairway, statues, gardens and a sea view, visited by the faithful and by people of every belief.
Things to do
Stop for prayer or reflection and look out over the bay, then continue to the Historic Center, Praia da Preguiça, the Escadinha and Praia da Vigia, all a few minutes' walk away. On the first weekend of February, the Our Lady of Navigators procession goes along this street to Praia da Vigia, where it meets the procession at sea.
Safety tips
This is a place of faith: speak softly, respect those who are praying and do not touch the objects left as thanks. The stairway gets slippery in the rain.
Source: Portal de turismo de Garopaba, OpenStreetMap e vídeos do Garopaba Por Aí (opens in a new tab).
