On January 20, the annual Festa das Fogaceiras centres on a procession of girls carrying Fogaças on their heads. The tradition dates back to 1505: when a major plague outbreak struck the region, a vow was made to the martyr São Sebastião. A fixed date, a religious story and a very particular pastry shape this festival.
The shape of the Fogaça da Feira also tells the story of another landmark: its four points represent the four battlements of the keep of Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira. The pastry is a symbol of the region’s confectionery tradition and is made daily in several production houses in the municipality. In this way, festival customs, castle history and local food culture come together in a single motif.
Discover history and culture
Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira is one of Portugal’s most important military monuments. Its defensive features, built between the 11th and 16th centuries, make it a unique example of Portuguese military architecture. The Viagem Medieval began in 1996 in the castle’s Praça de Armas. Other events also shape the calendar: the Semana Santa programme runs through Lent and culminates in the celebration of Easter, with artistic and religious initiatives; the individual events vary from year to year. At Imaginarius, street theatre becomes an urban ritual and a meeting point for cultures, languages and emotions.
Several museums offer different ways to explore the municipality’s history. Since 1992, the Museu Convento dos Lóios has been housed in the centuries-old building of the Convento dos Lóios. Its permanent exhibition areas are devoted to archaeology, history and ethnography. The Igreja do Espírito Santo (Matriz) is part of an architectural complex comprising a church and convent, which once housed the Congregation of Saint John the Evangelist, also known as the Lóios or Cónegos Azuis.
At the Museu do Papel Terras de Santa Maria, a permanent exhibition presents the artisanal and industrial phases of papermaking. The museum is housed in two former paper mills dating from the early 19th century. The Museu Santa Maria de Lamas preserves sculptures made from cork or cork agglomerate, as well as industrial archaeology machinery used in the early days of cork processing. At Castro de Romariz, the history reaches further back: the fortified settlement was established in the 5th century BC, and its occupation layers date back to the 1st century AD. The archaeological collection includes pottery, glass, metal objects, coins and inscriptions.
River landscapes and trails
At Parque das Ribeiras do Rio Uíma, wetlands, terrestrial areas and human activity meet across an extensive river floodplain. Walking trails explain the protected riverside ecosystems. Praia Fluvial da Mâmoa offers a different way to enjoy the water: there is a bathing area on each riverbank, as well as landscaped leisure areas and car parks. The site is open seasonally.
Porto Carvoeiro lies on the northern edge of the municipality of Santa Maria Da Feira, on the River Douro. It is designated as a leisure and recreation area where various sports can be practised. The Caminho Português de Santiago runs for about 17 kilometres through the municipality. Another, mixed-use circular trail is 3.6 kilometres long and starts and ends at Praça da República, by the town hall. The municipal hiking trails have one important practical feature: they are neither signposted nor marked, and can only be followed using the GPS track. The municipal trail network can be used for walking, running or mountain biking.
Those interested in trees and shrubs can explore the “Guardiãs do Castelo” interpretation trail independently, without a guide. It leads to the stands in Mata das Guimbras and Quinta do Castelo. For bird enthusiasts, Zoo de Lourosa is a destination in its own right: it is devoted exclusively to birds and is considered Portugal’s only ornithological park. It is home to around 500 specimens from 150 species in 80 enclosures; these numbers may change over time.
Regional products and flavours
Fogaça is not the only culinary tradition. In parts of the municipality, Regueifa da Páscoa is still made at home, with each family using its own recipes and baking it on a bed of cabbage leaves. Queijos Feirenses are another local speciality: they are described as creamy and buttery, with a soft texture and mild flavour, and are associated with tradition.
Lúpulo Feirense offers another connection between local produce and the landscape, growing along the banks of the River Cáster in Santa Maria Da Feira. Together with the festival traditions, museums, riverside areas and trails, it paints a varied picture: you can centre your visit on history and architecture, focus on nature and outdoor experiences, or discover regional customs and products.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Santa Maria De Feira, Sanguedo, São João De Vêr, Vale, Sanfins, Caldas de São Jorge, Guisande, Milheirós de Poiares, Lourosa, Fornos, Argoncilhe, Souto.
To the main travel overview: Aveiro.
