Arcos de Valdevez hosts the ancestral Romaria da Senhora da Porta on September 19th and 20th, a celebration that combines religious devotion with the region's cultural tradition. The event is organized by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Arcos de Valdevez in collaboration with the local municipality.
The festivities begin on Saturday, the 19th, at 4 pm, with a group of drums near the Misericórdia Church. The program includes the emblematic Mordomia Parade, concertinas, rusgas, mandated ball, and a fair dedicated to the region's traditional sweets.
On the sporting side, the International Veterans Rugby Tournament stands out, which takes the name of the patron saint. Local gastronomy also plays a central role through the "Hora da Janta" initiative, in which restaurants near the church serve typical menus and regional snacks.
The festivities end with the most solemn moments of the pilgrimage: the auctioning of offerings, the traditional blessing of the grapes from the harvest, and the solemn mass in honor of Our Lady of the Gate.
