Saint Michael

The festival of Saint Michael takes place in Canelas, in the civil parish union of Arouca e Burgo, in the municipality of Arouca — a region of strong cultural identity, marked by traditional dances, religious processions and local fairs, rooted in an ancient history that revolves around the Monastery of Arouca, founded in the tenth century, and the village of Burgo, which was an autonomous municipality until it was annexed to Arouca in 1817. Saint Michael is a saint venerated in many parts of Portugal, celebrated with festivities that bring communities together in faith and tradition, often with processions and devotions particular to each place. The sources consulted, however, do not detail the origins of this festival in Canelas, nor how devotion to Saint Michael is specifically experienced there.

In the heart of the municipality of Arouca, among mountains that hold ancient memories and valleys of endless green, lies the Union of parishes of Arouca and Burgo, a land inhabited since remote times, with traces of prehistoric, Roman and Norman occupation. It is here, in Canelas, that the festival of Saint Michael is celebrated, in a territory where faith, history and flavours go hand in hand. The Monastery of Arouca stands as the spiritual heart of the region, flanked by churches and viewpoints that invite quiet reflection and contemplation. At the table, Carne Arouquesa reigns supreme, with roasted veal and posta arouquesa, and to sweeten things up, the celebrated Pão-de-Ló de Arouca is never absent. These are hardworking people, fond of hearty festivities and genuine hospitality, who welcome visitors as if they have always known them.