Folklore is in the DNA of the Vianenses, the chieira (pride) in the roots and culture of the land is passed down from generation to generation and never forgotten or put to sleep. This love is cultivated daily and expressed periodically in various places around the city and on various dates dedicated to the expression of Minho and its tradition.
There are spaces in the city dedicated to the people’s pride in their heritage which, as well as preserving the region’s identity, give visitors a flavour of what it means to be from Viana:
Costume Museum
Created in 1997 with the mission of studying and publicising the identity and ethnographic heritage of Viana, the Vianese costume. A popular, rural women’s costume, worn in the villages around Viana do Castelo, which gradually acquired characteristics that made it unique and totally distinctive. Its difference led it to become symbolic and the greatest icon of Viana do Castelo’s identity.
This museum was conceived to fulfil the mission of communicating and enhancing the informative value of the costume, and to reinforce its importance in publicising the city and the region since, naturally, it is not possible to find it in everyday life (except in special situations such as festivals, pilgrimages and folklore festivals).
Gil Eanes Hospital Ship
The connection to the sea in this land has been prevalent for hundreds of years, its fishermen and their trips to sea have created much of what is Viana do Castelo today. The Gil Eanes was part of this history. As well as being built in the city’s shipyards, it supported the fishermen in their quest to catch cod.
This connection marked him out as a material symbol of this era, and in 1998, the Gil Eannes Foundation, FP, considering him to be the city’s cultural and emotional heritage, rescued him from the scrapyard and on 31 January 1998, he was given a festive welcome at Foz do Lima, where, after being cleaned and restored, he was opened to the public.
But if you want to experience the spirit of the Minho at its best, you have the opportunity:
Quinta de Santoinho
A tourist resort that stands out for its peculiar characteristics and undeniable originality, it provides an experience of a Minho festival.
As well as being a product of tourist entertainment, it fulfils the role of a promotional vehicle for Minho culture, through the permanent exhibition of a varied collection of implements and utensils from the countryside, granite figures, granaries from all the municipalities of Viana do Castelo, among many other objects. It is often soundtracked by popular music, regional songs and the sound of the concertina.
Pilgrimage of Nª Srª da Agonia
In the imposing Pilgrimage of Nª Srª da Agonia, tradition reaches its peak.
During these days, the beliefs and culture of this city are celebrated. The procession to the sea and the streets decorated with flowered carpets bear witness to the deep religious devotion and connection to the sea. Ethnography has its place in the parades of the Ethnographic Parade and in the Costume Festival, where you can admire the beautiful costumes of brides, butlers and farmers, worn by beautiful Minho women with chests full of authentic works of art in gold.
Viana welcomes those who want to get to know it.
