Our Lady of Hope Convent and Holy Christ of Miracles, Ponta Delgada (must see)

The Convent of Our Lady of Hope is renowned for its chapel dedicated to Holy Christ of Miracles, established through the efforts of Sister Anunciada. Initially, the image was displayed in a small altar in the low choir. The original chapel no longer exists, as a new one was commissioned and blessed on March 5, 1771, depicting a blend of baroque transitioning into rococo aesthetics. At the chapel entrance, remarkable tile panels by António de Oliveira Bernardes, from 1712, grace the walls, illustrating the Birth Steps and the Passion of Christ.

The chapel interiors feature exquisite tiles created by Real Fábrica do Rato in Lisbon, dating back to 1786-1787. Senhor Santo Cristo’s treasury holds an extensive collection of jewelry and goldsmithing embellishing the image. The multiple covers, enriched with gold and silver threads and adorned with a multitude of jewels, constitute one of the country's most significant religious treasures.

The collection showcases splendid examples of Portuguese jewelry from the latter half of the 18th century. Over time, numerous believers, members of the nobility, and even the Portuguese Crown have made donations to this impressive treasury, often fulfilling vows they made.

The Holy Christ of Miracles, a wooden sculpture crafted in the Renaissance style, is a revered piece of religious art housed in the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Esperança in Ponta Delgada. This image portrays a moment from the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, referred to as "Ecce Homo," where Christ, just scourged, stands before a crowd with bound wrists, wearing a crown of thorns and a purple cloak. The portrayal captures the contrast between the physical violence on Christ's body and the serene expression on his face, particularly in his gaze, narrated in the biblical event of Pilate's Court in Luke 23:1–25.

The veneration and festivities around the Santo Cristo dos Milagres originated from revelations received by Venerable Mother Teresa da Anunciada. These ceremonies occur in the days surrounding the fifth Sunday after Easter, culminating in a grand procession that finishes on the fifth Ascension fair.