history
The Feira da Ladra takes place annually in October in the parish of Vieira do Minho, in the municipality of the same name, and is a celebration of local traditions and culture that attracts many visitors. According to accounts of its origins, the fair dates back to the time when inhabitants used a fork-shaped stick to find their way to the market.
Throughout the days of festivity, the culture of the land is experienced through music, dance and the display of local produce, bringing the community together around its roots. It is an occasion that keeps the region's traditions alive and combines them with the conviviality of those who come from further afield.
The festival also pays tribute to its patron saint, Our Lady of Lapa, a devotion that accompanies the celebration and gives it its religious meaning, in a municipality known for its strong presence of religious traditions.
about the place
There are places kept in the heart of Minho like a well-guarded ancient secret, and Vieira do Minho is one of them — nestled in the north of Portugal, it carries within it the memory of distant times and the echo of the liberal struggles that shaped its destiny. Those who seek heritage with soul will find here Marian sanctuaries and chapels where devotion is carved in stone, true windows into the Minhota spirit. Traditions are very much alive, with folk culture holding a place of honour and the memory of fairs marking the rhythm of life for these people. At the table, Couves com Feijão, Massa à Lavrador and the sweet Vieirinhas hold sway — faithful portraits of a people who made an art of simplicity. This is the Vieira do Minho that offers itself to those who visit: a land of stone and faith, of tradition and flavour.
