Gruta dos Milagres

Useful Information

Location:	Tv. Dr. Manoel Novaes, 1279, Nossa Sra. da Soledade, Bom Jesus da Lapa - BA, 47600-000. (-13.258274, -43.417679)
Open:	All year daily 5-21. [2026]
Fee:	free, donations welcome. [2026]
Classification:	Karst Cave Stone Forests
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:	L=100 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Rafaela Bastos-Pereira, Rodrigo Ferreira (2015): *A new species of Spelaeogammarus* (Amphipoda: Bogidielloidea: Artesiidae) with an identification key for the genus** Zootaxa. 4021(3). pp 418-432. DOI
Address:	Gruta dos Milagres, Tv. Dr. Manoel Novaes, 1279, Nossa Sra. da Soledade, Bom Jesus da Lapa - BA, 47600-000, Tel: +55-.
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History

Description

The Gruta dos Milagres (Cave of Miracles) or Gruta da Água de Milagres (Cave of the Miracle Water) is said to be the oldest and most visited cave. It is a 100 m long passage with a cave lake at the far end which is considered a miraculous spring. Pilgrims bring bottles to collect the water and take it home, which is the reason for the name of the cave. Its also of scientific interest, as biospeleologist discovered a new stygobiotic Amphipoda of the genus Spelaeogammarus here.

As the passage is quite devoid of speleothems and resembles ancient Roman catacombs where martyrs of the Church were buried, it is also called Gruta dos Mártires (Cave of the Martyrs). And while it is not a cave church, there is still an image of Saint Jude Thaddeus, the saint of impossible causes, and the cave is also called Gruta de São Judas Tadeu (Grotto of Saint Jude Thaddeus).