Festivities of Ver

The Festas de Ver are an annual celebration in the parish of Escariz, in the municipality of Arouca, bringing together music, processions and cultural events. After more than twelve years of interruption, the festival returned through the initiative of a local working group, committed to recovering and keeping this local tradition alive. The region of Escariz holds an ancient history, with traces of early settlement, and has deep devotional roots. It is worth noting that, until the mid-1920s, external acts of worship were banned in Escariz, including processions, religious festivities and religious funerals. Among the parish's devotions is the festival of Senhora da Abelheira, in which Our Lady of the Conception is venerated.

There are places that reveal themselves slowly, and Escariz, in the heart of the municipality of Arouca, is one of them. Its name, of Germanic origin, carries the scent of forest and battle, and its memory reaches back into remote times — megalithic structures, traces of hillforts and burial mounds speak of a very ancient occupation, while the Inquirições of 1288 already inscribed it on the maps of power and faith. A land of hardworking people, it was built on farming, timber, footwear, construction and, more recently, beekeeping and its sweet honey. Atop a hill stands the Capela da Senhora da Abelheira, a haven of devotion and scenery where time seems to slow. And at the table, Carne Arouquesa reigns supreme, with roast veal, kid goat, steak and skewered meat, washed down with crisp Vinho Verde — because in Escariz, one eats with the soul and welcomes guests with abundance.