ROMARIA DA SENHORA D’AGONIA: A TRADITION TO EXPERIENCE AT AP DONA ANINHAS
Between 15 and 23 August, the streets of Viana do Castelo come alive with colour, music and devotion. It is time for the Romaria da Senhora d’Agonia, one of Portugal’s oldest and most iconic celebrations, where faith meets folklore, filigree gold shines in the summer sun, and the whole city seems to dance to the rhythm of its traditional costumes.
At AP Dona Aninhas, this is a celebration we are proud to make our own. Our team will be dressed in traditional attire to welcome you, while our restaurant will feature a special buffet menu inspired by the spirit of the festivities, with regional flavours served from 19 to 23 August, as well as on Sunday lunch.
Vianese-style fish pasta, bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, oven-baked octopus rice and more with a different menu every day, at €27 per person, drinks not included.
A team dressed in tradition
To honour this special occasion, our team will be dressed in traditional attire, with embroidered scarves, lace-trimmed skirts, necklaces and earrings that have been passed down through generations of women from Viana. Every piece tells a story of Minho, chosen with the same care we put into our hospitality.
At the heart of this tradition is mordomia: the collection of gold jewellery worn by the mordomas during the Romaria. It is one of the most recognisable symbols of these celebrations and a true example of Viana’s living heritage.
Highlights of the week
These are days of continuous celebration, with dawn festivities and brass band concerts setting the daily rhythm in Praça da República, from early morning until night. To help you plan your visit, we have gathered the main highlights of each day:
- Tuesday, 18 August – Festa do Traje at the Cultural Centre, at 10pm;
- Wednesday, 19 August – Desfile da Mordomia at 4pm; later in the day, the Ribeira’s Flower Carpets begin; Augusto Canário & Amigos concert at Campo d’Agonia at 10pm;
- Thursday, 20 August – Procissão ao Mar at 2.30pm, followed by Flores ao Mar at 8.30pm; in the evening, Folklore Festival and fireworks over Campo d’Agonia;
- Friday, 21 August – Romaria dos Pequeninos, from 10am to 6pm; Encontro de Cantadores ao Desafio at 5pm;
- Saturday, 22 August – Historical and Ethnographic Procession at 4pm, one of the most photographed moments of the Romaria;
- Sunday, 23 August – Solemn Procession at 4pm; at midnight, a Serenade over the Lima River brings the celebrations to a close.
The full official programme is available on the Romaria website at festasdagonia.com and is subject to change.
Flavours to accompany the celebrations
The Buffet Menu includes the same selection throughout all meals: soup of the day, salads, a selection of cheeses and cured meats, a variety of side dishes, sliced fresh fruit, regional desserts and a chocolate fountain. What changes from day to day is the selection of main dishes:
- Wednesday, 19 August – Vianese-style fish pasta, pork cheeks confit in red wine and vegetable ratatouille;
- Thursday, 20 August – Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, oven-roasted veal and penne pasta with mushrooms and asparagus;
- Friday, 21 August – oven-baked sea bass fillets, slow-cooked pork neck and spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce;
- Saturday, 22 August – cod with spinach and prawns, beef fillets with mushroom sauce and vegetable brás;
- Sunday, 23 August, lunch – salt-baked fish, vegetables stuffed with bacalhau espiritual and Minho-style roast veal;
- Sunday, 23 August, dinner – oven-baked octopus rice, carne de porco à alentejana and creamy mushroom rice.
Visiting AP Dona Aninhas during the Romaria da Senhora d’Agonia means stepping into a city in celebration and experiencing, first-hand, everything that makes it so unique.
Take the opportunity to explore our exhibitions dedicated to mordomia, a fundamental part of Viana’s cultural heritage.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this tradition with you. As the saying goes in Viana: “Those who like it come, those who love it stay.”
