Just beyond Porto’s last metro stop, where the city thins into winding lanes and stone-walled gardens, Águas Santas, one the of oldest townships of Maia, comes alive each September for the festivities of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe.
It’s a celebration where sacred processions share the same streets, the smell of sizzling churros, farturas, cotton candy suffuses the air, brass bands, and the laughter of neighbours who’ve known each other for generations, bumper cars, etc fill the evening. Here, you’ll wander narrow backstreets and glimpse tiny vegetable plots hidden behind high granite walls, and pause in cafés where gossip flows as freely as the vinho verde.
Nevertheless, the locale is celebrating, we will be walking through the decorated streets: paper flowers, festoons, temporary stalls, but processions that brought miracles, family rivalries over who carries the “andor”, and how the festivity was once the highlight of the year for returning emigrants.
This is suburban Portugal at its most authentic — not polished for postcards, but rich with the quiet poetry of daily life. You’ll walk in the shadow of the chapel’s bell tower and hear stories of old miracles and new traditions. It’s a step outside Porto’s familiar rhythm, into a world that feels at once far away and just around the corner.
Information:
Tour Language: ENGLISH (will not burden you much with commentary, the aim truly is walking and seeing this Porto 2.0 unfold in front of us)
Day: Sunday, 7th of September
Time: 15h30-19h00 - (temperatures are coming down but UVs are still really strong out there, so we want to do the tour 100% in the shade
Meeting point: Metro Station of Hospital S. João
End point: Church of Nossa Senhora da Guadalupe - after that we’re happy to leave you back to the main bus routes and the train station back to Porto (you can use your andante there) or can stay around enjoy the atmosphere and take an inexpensive uber back.
Distance: 6km / 3,7 miles
How to sign up for the tour?
Just send us a private message or by sms/whatsapp to +351 910430259 or by email to
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Price: €15 ( free for children) - we're there a few minutes before the tour starts so you may pay then either by cash or Mbway ! :D
It's carefree and laidback, do not forget to bring your camera (right, as if this was 2005!)
And all the farturas and churros are on us! :D
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