From Lent to Easter 2026

 

FROM LENT TO EASTER/2026

20 March to 12 April

Programme

 

20 March to 12 April
Exhibition: The Passion of Christ in Guimarães

Tuesdays to Sundays*

10.00 am - 12.00 pm

2.00 pm - 5.00 pm**

Free entrance, limited to the capacity of the space

*Except for Easter Sunday, 5 April.

**Except for Martins Sarmento Society, which only opens at 2.30 pm.

 

SIGNS OF PRESENCE

The Ark and the Lamb; The Throne and the Pelican

Curator: José Carlos Miranda

 

Sites:

Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

1. Monstrance

2. Chalice

3. Cartouche Crowning the Altarpiece Inscription: Locus iste Sanctus est

1st Station of the Cross

4. Via Crucis

Jesus falls the first time

 

Church of São Francisco

5. Set of Chalice and Monstrance of the Holy Cross

6. Central altarcard: Hoc est enim corpus meum

7. Stigmatisation of Saint Francis Altarpiece of the Antesacristy (on the predella, the Martyrs of Marocco)

Church of São Sebastião – Dominicans

8. Tabernacle topped by a Pelican

9. Urn or Capsule for Maundy Thursday

10. Embroidered Lamb for the Viaticum

 

Martins Sarmento Society

11. Calvary

12. Missal print alluding to the Wounds

13. Choir book open to the Easter Sequence: Agnus redemit oves

 

Basilica of Saint Peter

14. Tabernacle alluding to the Temple of Jerusalem

15. Saint John Child with the Lamb

16. Good Shepherd with the Lamb in his lap

 

Church of Misericórdia

17. Staircase and Throne or Tribune of the Blessed Sacrament

18. Our Lady of Piety (processional banner)

19. Coat of Arms of the Quinas Royal Coat of Arms of Portugal crowning the High Altar

5th Station of the Cross

20. Via Crucis

Jesus is stripped of his garments

 

Oratory of the Forsaken

21. Crucifix and scenes of the Passion

2nd Station of the Cross

22. Via Crucis

Jesus meets his Mother on the way to Calvary

Alberto Sampaio Museum

23. Urn or Capsule of Maundy Thursday Silversmith: Miguel Joaquim de Freitas

24. Painting with the Paschal Lamb

25. Holy Family preluding the Passion of Christ

 

City Council of Guimarães - Façade of the Old Convent of Santa Clara

26. Santa Clara holding the Monstrance

 

Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

27. Chapel of the Eucharistic reserve

28. Tabernacle: Lamb surrounded by a halo that crowns the tabernacle. Below, the Tetragrammaton

29. Tabernacle: Doors with relief panels

3rd Station of the Cross

30. Via Crucis

Jesus falls for the second time

4th Station of the Cross

31. Via Crucis

Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem

 

Monastery of São José do Carmo

32. Saint John the Baptist with the Lamb

33. Prophet Elijah in his Sleep (High Choir)

34. Prophet Elijah (Altarpice)

 

Church of Santo António dos Capuchos

35. Tabernacle

36. Stigmata of St. Francis (sacristy)

37. Franciscan coat of arms with the stigmata

 Passion Cross

38. Cross with symbols of the Passion

 

Sanctuary of Penha

39. Pelican on the top of the façade of the church, reproduced in the Tabernacle

40. Set of Chalice and Monstrance

41. Braga Missal on the page of the Ascension into Heaven

 

 

22 March to 12 April
 - Religious Ceremonies

Sunday, 22 March

4.00 pm

Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

Procession of the Stations of the Cross (Procession of the Encounter)

Important note: If it rains on the 22 March, the aforementioned procession will take place on Palm Sunday, 29 March, at 5.00 pm.

 

Wednesday, 25 March

9.30 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

Via Crucis

Important note: If it rains, it will be held in the church.

 

Friday, 27 March

7.00 pm - Church of São Francisco

Mass in Honour of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

Palm Sunday, 29 March

8.00 am - Church of São Domingos

9.00 am -Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

11.00 am - Church of Mercy

Basilica of Saint Peter

Celebration of the Eucharist

11.45 am - Church of Mercy to the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

The Blessing of the Palms and Procession

12.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and Church of São Sebastião

12.30 pm - Church of São Francisco

7.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Celebration of the Eucharist

 

Maundy Thursday, 2 April

7.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

7.30 pm - Church of São Domingos

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Washing of the Feet

9.00 pm - Church of Mercy

Procession of the Blessed Sacrament

Important note: If it rains, it will be held in the church.

 

Good Friday, 3 April

10.00 am - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Prayer of Lauds, Meditation and Sacrament of Reconciliation

3.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and Church of São Sebastião

4.30 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

Celebration of the Passion of the Lord

10.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

Procession of the Burial of the Lord

Important note: If it rains, it will be held in the church.

 

Saturday, 4 April

10.00 am - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Prayer of Lauds, Meditation and Sacrament of Reconciliation

9.00 pm - Church of São Domingos

9.30 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Celebration of the Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, 5 March

8.00 am - Church of São Domingos

Celebration of the Eucharist

9.00 am - Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

Celebration of the Eucharist

9.00 am - Houses and establishments of the Parish of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Houses and establishments of the Pastoral Unit of São Sebastião and São Paio

Easter Visit

11.00 am - Basilica of Saint Peter

Celebration of the Eucharist

12.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Gathering of the Easter Visit (Compasso) and Celebration of the Eucharist

12.30 pm - Church of São Francisco

Gathering of the Easter Visit (Compasso) of the Pastoral Unit of São Sebastião and São Paio and Celebration of the Eucharist

3.30 pm

Establishments of the Historic Centre of the Parish of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Easter Visit

7.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Celebration of the Eucharist

 

2nd Easter Sunday, 12 April

8.00 am - Church of São Domingos

9.00 am - Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos

10.00 am - Church of São Domingos

11.00 am - Church of Mercy anda Basilica of Saint Peter

12.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira anda Church of São Sebastião

12.30 pm - Church of São Francisco

7.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Celebration of the Eucharist

27 March to 4 April
Guimarães International Festival of Religious Music

10th edition

Artistic Director: César Viana

Free admission, subject to venue capacity

Approximate duration of each show: 60 minutes

Age rating: over 6

 

Friday, 27 March

9.30 pm - Church of Misericórdia

LUDOVICE ENSEMBLE

Musical Funeral Rites: Death illuminated by the redeeming Passion of Christ.

Works by Heinrich Schütz

 

Saturday, 28 March

11.00 am - Largo do Toural

LVSITANVS CARILLON 
Religious music for carillon

5.00 pm - Basilica of Saint Peter

ENCANTO CHOIR

AZURÉM CHORAL GROUP

9.30 pm - Church of São Francisco

GUIMARÃES ORCHESTRA
Richard Strauss: Death and Transfiguration and Four Last Songs

 

Sunday, 29 March

11.00 am - Jardim do Coreto de Caldelas

LVSITANVS CARILLON

Religious music for carillon

3.00 pm - Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

MARTIN WELZEL (organ)
Music for Renaissance and Baroque key organ

 

Wednesday, 1 April

9.30 pm - Church of São Sebastião – Dominicas

VALERIE STEENKEN

ALBERTO SANCHEZ GARCIA

MONTSERRAT EGEA TAPETADO

CARLOS MARÍN RAYO

CORO VILANCICO
Quartet for the End of Times and Gregorian Chant

 

Thursday, 2 April

Chapel of the São José Youth Centre

9.30 pm - CONFERENCE WITH ALFREDO TEIXEIRA

9.45 pm - GUIMARÃES STRING QUARTET

Works by Teixeira, Jasinski and Mendelssohn

 

Friday, 3 April

5.00 pm - Church of São Domingos

EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE OF ESMAE

Works by d Lambert, Caldara, Porpora, Scarlatti and Telemann

9.30 pm- Romanesque Church of Santa Cristina de Serzedelo

ENSEMBLE “SUAVISSIMA ARMONIA”

Vocal and instrumental music from the Baroque period

9.30 pm - Monastery of São Salvador de Souto

GUIMARÃES STRING QUARTET
Works by Teixeira, Jasinski and Mendelssohn

 

Saturday, 4 April

5.00 pm - Sanctuary of Penha

ENSEMBLE “SUAVISSIMA ARMONIA”

Vocal and instrumental music from the Baroque period

9.30 pm - Church of Santo António dos Capuchos

CAPELLA SANCTÆ CRUCIS

Ad Tenebras: Lamentations and Responsories for Holy Week in Santa Cruz de Coimbra (1530–1630)

27 to 29 March
Gastronomic weekend

Dishes: Rich soup (with beans), cod with corn bread and Guimarães toucinho do céu (cake with egg yolks and sugar)

Participating establishments:

Restaurants: Restaurante Buxa, Com Requinte, Cor de Tangerina, Paraíso 19.95, Restaurante Café Oriental, Restaurante Dan José, Restaurante Dona Mafalda, Restaurante Florêncio, Restaurante HOOL, Restaurante Renascimento, Restaurante Tia Xica and Restaurante Virtudes

Accommodation: Paraíso Villas & Spa, Stay Hotel Guimarães Centro, Hotel D. João IV, Hotel Mestre de Avis, Casa do Juncal, Casal de S. Romão do Meio, The Grove Houses and Torel Royal Court

Wine tourism farms: Quinta da Rabiana, Quinta dos Encados, Quinta Picouto de Cima and Quinta Pousada de Fora

+info: http://www.visitguimaraes.travel

Other activities

Easter at the Archives 2026


20 to 27 March - “The Flag of the City of Guimarães” 10.00 am|2.30 pm

30 March to 2 April – “Easter symbols” 10.00 am|2.30 pm

6 to 10 April – “Embroidery with almonds” 10.00 am|2.30 pm

Place: Alfredo Pimenta Municipal Archive
Target audience: Pre-school; Primary School

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

- All activities are free, but subject to scheduling through the email arquivo.municipal@cm-guimaraes.pt or by phone +351 253 421 246 (call to national landline network). Subject to confirmation.

- The activities may be photographed and/or filmed for recording and subsequent disclosure of the event on our digital platforms and other media. If you do not authorise the publication of your image, you must inform the services.

Conference: 
“Com o filho no colo. As esculturas da humildade e da piedade.” (With her Son in her lap. Sculptures of humility and piety.)

28 March, 3.00 pm

Martins Sarmento Society

Professor Albertino Gonçalves

Flower market

29 march
10.00 am | 5.00 pm
Largo da Oliveira 
Sale of fresh flowers by local producers and florists

 

Bordar na Praça

4 de abril

10h00-13h00

Praça de Santiago

Embroidery workshop

 

Burning of Judas

“Guilty, innocent, or doesn’t remember?”

4 April, 10.30 pm
Largo da Capela de S. Roque

Organisation: Association of the Easter Monday Festival of S. Roque with the special participation of OsMusiké - Musical and Artistic Association of the Francisco de Holanda Training Centre

 

Organisation

Municipality of Guimarães

Programme partners

Alberto Sampaio Museum (Exhibition: “From the Passion of Christ to Easter”)


Guimarães Musical Society (Guimarães International Festival of Religious Music)

Partners/Supports

AOficina – Centro de Artes e Mesteres Tradicionais de Guimarães, CIPRL

Arciprestado de Guimarães e Vizela 


Associação da Festa de Segunda-feira de Páscoa de S. Roque 


Centro Juvenil de São José

Fábrica da Igreja Paroquial de Santa Cristina de Serzedelo

Irmandade de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos 


Irmandade de Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Penha 


Irmandade do Príncipe dos Apóstolos de São Pedro

Junta de Freguesia de Caldelas

Laboratório da Paisagem

Lar de Santa Estefânia 


Museu de Alberto Sampaio

Paróquias de São Paio e São Sebastião 


Real Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira 


Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Guimarães 


Sociedade Martins Sarmento 


Sociedade Musical de Guimarães 


Turismo Porto e Norte de Portugal 


Venerável Ordem Terceira de São Francisco

União de Freguesias de Souto Santa Maria, Souto São Salvador e Gondomar

 

Media partner

Rádio Renascença (radio station)