The Grotto
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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The Grotto is located in East Portland and offers everything from a place for quiet contemplation to a good brisk walk through the trails - and during the holidays it’s known statewide for the incredible Festival of Lights that fills the sanctuary with holiday songs and the glow of thousands of little lights.
For most of the year The Grotto - which is also known as the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother - is a 62-acre Catholic Shrine, featuring botanical gardens and nature path. The Grotto is a non-profit corporation supported by the proceeds of its gift shop and by donations. It features a conference center, a chapel and hundreds of statutes - with the main attraction being a marble replica of Michelangelo’s Pieta located inside the grotto.
Visitors can go to the top of the cliff that contains the grotto to see the bronze statue of Our Sorrowful Mother, designed especially for the location and blessed in the Vatican by Pope Pius XI in 1934.
What to bring: As with any outdoor venue in Oregon, it’s good to dress weather and season specific. In the spring and fall, layering is a good idea while also being prepared for the random rain shower. During the winter expect everything from heavy rain to even ice. The wind is also a factor, so expect to have some windy conditions when you visit as The Grotto is located close to the gorge.
The Rev. Topper said that most people only need to bring their cameras and have enough time to reflect or just take a slow hike to the top of the cliff in the middle of the sanctuary.
Season: Open every day but Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Winter hours (Oct. 1 - March 31): Monday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Last admission taken at 3:30 p.m.)
Summer hours (April 1 - Sept. 30): Monday: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Last admission taken at 6:30 p.m.)
The Grotto is a wonderful spiritual sanctuary located in a most unusual urban setting. It is truly magical. It is simple to find, parking is easy, and the scenery is truly inspiring even for those not of the Catholic faith. Simply park your car and head through the trails. You will be greeted by a number of statuary as you meander through the complex. The grotto itself is something one might expect to see in a European travel guide. Purchase a token at the gift shop and take the elevator up the cliff to experience the additional trails and statuary above the grotto. You will be treated to some beautiful views too. If you are around during the Christmas season, bundle up and experience the lights, singers, and sites of a beautiful seasonal celebration. This location is inspiring and stunning. Once surrounded by the forest it is hard to believe that you are still in the city.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:29 amThe Grotto is my absolute favorite place in Portland. I could live there!! For years I didn’t know it existed, and when I was taken by a friend I ended up going back twice that week and spending two full days. You are immediately immersed in a tranquil, serene setting and any cares and woes drop away instantly. You’d never know it was in the city, it is a world unto itself. I longed to live and work nearby so I could go daily for a walk, to sit on a bench and eat my lunch, to sit in the chapel, to browse the gift shop. Oh go! Just go! Don’t think religion, think Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! You’ll be so glad you did. Oh my. Go.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pm