Romaria da Senhora da Agonia

The Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Agonia is held around 20 August in Viana do Castelo and is generally called the largest festival in the Minho. Its signature is the Cortejo da Mordomia: several hundred women processing in the region's traditional costume - embroidered skirts, aprons and shawls in the distinctive Viana patterns - wearing family gold, filigree hearts, crosses and layered chains that in some cases amount to several kilograms per person, accumulated across generations and worn once a year. There is also a procession to the sea, where the image is carried to bless the fishing fleet and boats are decorated; carpets of coloured sawdust and flowers laid on the streets overnight for the religious procession to pass over; giant figures and drumming groups; and fireworks over the Lima. The costume and the gold are the reason the festival is nationally known.

Highlights

• The Cortejo da Mordomia - hundreds of women in Viana costume wearing inherited gold.
• The sea procession - the image carried to bless the decorated fishing fleet.
• The sawdust carpets - coloured street carpets laid overnight for the procession.
• The fireworks - the closing display over the Lima river.

When to go

Around 20 August, over four days. Two to four days to see the main processions. Accommodation across the Minho books out.

Good to know

The city is completely full and rooms are scarce and expensive for a wide radius. Crowds are dense along procession routes - position early. August heat and long standing. The gold worn is family property; photograph people with courtesy.

Nearby

Santa Luzia is on the hill above; Ponte de Lima is up the river valley.