Monte Serrat, Santos

To reach the top of Monte Serrat, the second highest mountain in Santos, you can take a ride in a funicular cable car, or climb the 415 steps, which have depictions of the Stations of the Cross at intervals. Once up, you take the stairs to the roof of an old casino-turned-observatory, and at an altitude of 167 m (548 ft), you get a spectacular 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the entire city and harbor. Inside the building, original furnishings remain from when the casino was functional, and there is a collection of old photographs for you to get a true sense of what “old” Santos was like. Also at the top, you will see the Shrine of Our Lady of Monte Serrat, built in 1609, to honor the patron saint of Santos. Once a year, there is "Descida das Escadas de Santos", where you join the locals on a descent of the mountain, via the steps, stopping for food and drink along the way. Steeped in tradition, it is a lively and highly memorable spectacle. Use our Santos sightseeing planner to add Monte Serrat and other attractions to your Santos vacation plans.