Presentation

The ethnographic richness of the municipality of Vila Verde, and of Minho in general, is the result of a long-standing occupation of the territory, of an entire landscape and historical context, and of the way in which people organized themselves from an economic and social point of view. One of the elements that most characterizes it is the deeply religious nature of its inhabitants, which is expressed in their entire way of being and thinking.

The festivals and pilgrimages, together with the fairs, remain today one of the most visible expressions that define its culture.

In the municipality of Vila Verde, located in the heart of Minho, around 150 festivals, pilgrimages, and fairs are held, taking place from January to December in all its parishes.

The municipal festivities dedicated to Saint Anthony in the municipal seat, the pilgrimages of Our Lady of Alívio in Soutelo, Our Lady of Bom Despacho in Cervães, and Saint Anthony in Mixões da Serra with the Blessing of the Animals are the best known. But all of them express a past that one seeks to preserve and pass on to new generations—ways of living and feeling that current patterns tend to make disappear.

The municipality of Vila Verde is strongly committed to contributing to the preservation of this facet of the lives of the men and women of the region, both for what it represents as historical and cultural value and for its increasingly relevant tourist and economic significance within the context of preserving our cultural and natural heritage.

These activities are opportunities to visit the municipality of Vila Verde, to engage with its people, stay in the family comfort of our Rural Tourism Accommodation, enjoy its gastronomic flavors and knowledge, and visit its vast historical, cultural, and ethnographic heritage, framed by a landscape that never fails to surprise visitors with its contrasts and beauty.