Other locations also celebrating National Pilgrim Day

Next Sunday, October 13, marks National Pilgrim Day, with events taking place in several locations across the country. The programs for Guimarães and Barcelos have already been detailed in the previous news piece.

In Tondela, at 4:30 PM, a discussion titled “Being a Pilgrim: A Life-Changing Experience” will take place with writer and pilgrim Luís Ferreira, at the auditorium of the Museu Terras de Besteiros.

Esposende celebrates the day with a special welcome for pilgrims on the Portuguese Coastal Route. They will be greeted at the Ponte de Fão with a small snack and handcrafted gifts at a reception post set up since October 11. Additionally, as part of the “Art on the Camino” project, the façade of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Esposende will be decorated with five panels titled “Coloring the Caminos,” featuring artwork by 120 preschool children. The initiative also includes various outdoor artistic installations, clearly marked, reflecting the theme of pilgrimage. More info here.

Vila Pouca de Aguiar will wait until Tuesday, October 15, to mark the date with several activities. The meeting point is at 3:00 PM at the Tourism Office/Welcome Center (former Pedras Salgadas train station). From there, participants will walk the Camino between Pedras Salgadas and Sabroso de Aguiar to inaugurate the Sabroso de Aguiar Albergue. Activities will continue with a discussion involving the local community and the presentation of the “Ultreia Sudoe” project, followed by a gathering and snack. Later, at 9:00 PM, the exhibition “Echoes of the Camino” will be inaugurated with the presence of the author.

In Viana do Castelo, the Association Friends of the Camino de Santiago, from Viana do Castelo (AACS) will also commemorate October 13 by inaugurating the exhibition “AACS Viana – 20 Years on the Camino” by 10:30 AM, at the Interpretive Center of the Portuguese Coastal Route. The exhibition recounts, through photography, 20 years of the Association’s history, up to the present day.

Valença celebrates the day with the exhibition “Peregrinatus” at the Tourism Office in the Fortress. This is a project showcasing and selling handicrafts inspired by the Camino de Santiago. According to the Valença municipality, “The pieces created eternalize memories of the Camino, allowing all who undertake the journey to keep these memories close.”