Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Peneda

About the Event

The Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Peneda is one of the most attended pilgrimages in Portugal, held annually from September 1–8 at the stunning baroque Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Peneda, deep in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Portuguese and Galician pilgrims converge on this remote mountain sanctuary, which features a monumental Baroque staircase with Passion chapels carved into the mountainside.

The spiritual heart of the festival is the religious devotion to Our Lady of Peneda, but the cultural fabric is equally rich. On the night of September 6, locals and pilgrims sing and dance to accordion (concertina) music throughout the entire night until 7 AM — an extraordinary atmosphere of music, community and devotion. The sanctuary sits at the base of dramatic granite cliffs, surrounded by tiny stone hamlets with their clusters of espigueiros (traditional raised grain stores).

What to Expect

• Religious processions and masses at the baroque sanctuary
• All-night accordion music and dancing on September 6
• Traditional market stalls and regional food
• Meeting of Portuguese and Galician pilgrim traditions
• Spectacular mountain scenery

Location

Santuário da Peneda, Arcos de Valdevez, Peneda-Gerês National Park.

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