Vila Franca celebrates pilgrimage over 400 years old

The parish of Vila Franca, in the municipality of Viana do Castelo, hosts another edition of the Festa das Rosas.

The pilgrimage is known for its heavy flower baskets carried on the heads by the young butlers of the land.

For Friday, the 10th, the Crafts with Tradition Exhibition is scheduled to open, at 10:00 pm, at Casa do Povo.

At 10:30 pm there is a Youth Festival with a performance by the CURTISOM Musical Group and at midnight the Super Rosas begins.

Saturday, the party continues with the Parade and Revista de Grupos de Bombos and Zés Pereiras, at 2:30 pm, and the Votive Roses Parade, at 4:30 pm. At 9:30 pm, the highlight will be another edition of the Vila Franca Folklore Festival.

Sunday, the 12th, there is the Stewardship Parade, at 9:30 am, and the Majestic Procession, at 4:00 pm.

In between, at 10:00 am, a tribute will be paid to Father José Luís Esteves do Couto, who died in October last year, and the Eucharist in Honor of Our Lady of the Rosary will be held at 10:30 am.

At night, the Belcanto Show Group performs at 10:00 pm.

Monday, May 13th, the Flower Baskets Exhibition opens inside the Parish Church, at 9:00 am, and at 6:30 pm the Eucharist in Honor of Saint Michael takes place.

A week later, Sunday, the 19th, the festivities end with the traditional Children’s Festival, with the Parade scheduled for 3:00 pm.

The “Festival of Roses” is included in the national Cultural and Intangible Heritage. In this Pilgrimage, flower baskets are offered by the butlers to the Lady of the Rosary.

The custom of flower baskets in Vila Franca do Lima dates back to 1622, when the Confraria de Nossa Senhora do Rosário was formed. Since then, thousands of pilgrims flock to Vila Franca do Lima, every second Sunday in May, in devotion or simply attracted by the singular beauty of the festival.