The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Bom Despacho is a fair example of the Baroque «local style», in which are highlighted various elements related to the Eucharist, which are true works of art.
At this Sanctuary on the first Sunday of June, the annual festival is held, which includes a procession, mass and a fair. The previous day, the image of the Lady is taken to a church of a neighbourhood parish, is in the municipality of Vila Verde or Barcelos. It is from here that begins the procession that will end in the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Bom Despacho. The community participation in the organization of this Festival is high and effusive. At various places of the parish, arches decorated with flowers and traditional scarves are built in the streets through where the procession will pass. On the ground, are fresh flower carpets with vegetal and religious motifs, which together with the arches, produce a colourful environment. The dispute between the places of the parish is also a tradition and exposes itself in the street homes, set of arches built, and in the most beautiful rug.
On the procession day, quilts are placed on window ledges, as a sign of devotion, joy, celebration and respect for Virgin. The children are assigned the function of throwing flowers to the passageway where the carried platform will pass. According to the promise that led to the construction of the Sanctuary, are primarily attributed to Senhora do Bom Despacho granting thanks for health related matters. However, there are also requests for fertility and pregnancy of women, as well as for the agricultural production.
Location: Vila Verde
At this Sanctuary on the first Sunday of June, the annual festival is held, which includes a procession, mass and a fair. The previous day, the image of the Lady is taken to a church of a neighbourhood parish, is in the municipality of Vila Verde or Barcelos. It is from here that begins the procession that will end in the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Bom Despacho. The community participation in the organization of this Festival is high and effusive. At various places of the parish, arches decorated with flowers and traditional scarves are built in the streets through where the procession will pass. On the ground, are fresh flower carpets with vegetal and religious motifs, which together with the arches, produce a colourful environment. The dispute between the places of the parish is also a tradition and exposes itself in the street homes, set of arches built, and in the most beautiful rug.
On the procession day, quilts are placed on window ledges, as a sign of devotion, joy, celebration and respect for Virgin. The children are assigned the function of throwing flowers to the passageway where the carried platform will pass. According to the promise that led to the construction of the Sanctuary, are primarily attributed to Senhora do Bom Despacho granting thanks for health related matters. However, there are also requests for fertility and pregnancy of women, as well as for the agricultural production.
Location: Vila Verde
