Several localities celebrate St. James’ Day
Several localities celebrate St. James’ Day, observed on July 25. This date evokes the apostle, whose devotion and pilgrimage to his tomb gave rise to the Camino de Santiago. Below are some of the different celebrations marking his day, organized from north to south of the country.
Viana do Castelo proposes, for July 25, a morning walk along the Portuguese Coastal Route, from Castelo do Neiva to the Interpretive Centre of the Camino, followed by a visit and tasting, and in the evening a free concert by the string quartet Viana d’Arcus. See the full programme here and on the City Council’s website.
In Valença, the celebrations on July 25 begin with the blessing of pilgrims’ backpacks at the Church of Santo Estêvão and include the cutting of a monumental scallop-shaped cake, four metres wide, in Praça da República, the opening of a sculpture exhibition by Robert Schad, and the launch of the book Valença no Caminho. You can see the full programme here.
Barcelos hosts a Party of Santiago, on July 26, in Rua Miguel Bombarda – closed to traffic from 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM – with theatre, a concert, food, street entertainment and Queimada Galega. The full programme is available here.
Matosinhos celebrates St. James’ Day from July 25 to 27, with shared messages, tastings, a special mass and a walk. Admission is free, and the programme can be consulted here.
In Grijó, on July 26, the V Conference on the Caminos de Santiago will take place at the São Salvador Monastery, with free entry. The programme includes talks, pilgrim testimonies, a photography exhibition, a musical moment and book launch. More information is available on the event’s Facebook page.
In Albergaria-a-Velha, on July 26 at 6:00 p.m., the Albergue Rainha D. Teresa is hosting the activity “St. James’s Day: A Pilgrim’s Testimony”, with José Alves sharing his experiences from the 20 Caminos he has already walked to Santiago. The event is free but requires registration via email: albergue@cm-albergaria.pt. More detailed information here.
Mealhada marks the date on July 25 with initiatives including a guided visit to the Bussaco Forest and the Convent of Santa Cruz, and a Eucharist at the Chapel of Sant’Ana. Throughout the week, the jacobean route in the municipality is lit with blue lights. More information available here.
Tomar joins the celebrations with a programme previously reported by Via Lusitana, from July 25 to 27, including concerts, local activities, a mass and a lunch, as well as an exhibition at the Tourist Office running throughout the three days.
Palmela celebrates St. James’ Day with free initiatives on July 25 and 26, such as exhibitions, a medieval concert and the launch of two books. On August 2, there will be a guided tour of the Pousada de Palmela (heritage hotel). More information is available on the Municipal website, or via the contacts: turismo@cm-palmela.pt / 212 332 122.
These initiatives show how St. James’ Day continues to be celebrated in diverse ways across Portugal, combining heritage, culture and spirituality in a calendar that reinforces the value of the Camino de Santiago as a space for gathering and sharing.
