In a perfect symbiosis between the sacred and the profane, the Pilgrimage of São Bartolomeu, which takes place every year between the 19th and 24th of August, is a meeting of happy people who vibrate with their celebration and who are proud of it. The Pilgrimage is a true promotional poster of the Ponte da Barca City Council and a good example of its associative dynamics. This pilgrimage is known throughout the north of Portugal for its authenticity.

From the 19th to the 24th of August, the city of Ponte da Barca does not sleep: Five consecutive days of day and night life. Schedule is popular: music festivals, local radio, “Casca-de-Carvalho” melon contest, treasure hunt, horse racing and game of Malha. All without forgetting the drumming, the Feira do Linho, the ethnographic parade and the cattle contest.

At night, the centenary motto resounds on Saint Bartholomew’s night: “The devil is loose!” … and all the fun is allowed! Including the wheel and the turns until dawn in this party of friends and get-togethers.

On the morning of the 24th of August, the majestic “Procession to Saint Bartholomew” begins. The party is over and the Saint must be honored. The population participates together in the procession that runs through the streets of Ponte da Barca. The pilgrimage only ends at midnight… and on August 25th, with the end of the festival, for many, winter begins.