- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Malta, Republic of
- Portugal
-
Spain
-
Canary Islands
- El Hierro
- La Palma
- La Gomera
- Tenerife
- Gran Canaria
- Lanzarote
- Fuerteventura
- Tarajalejo
- Caleta de Fuste
- Corralejo
- Costa Calma
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Lobos Island
- Maspalomas
- Caleta de Famara
- Morro Jable
- Costa Teguise
- Jandía
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- Playa Blanca
- Playa de las Americas
- Puerto Calero
- Teide National Park
- Playa del Inglés
- Puerto del Carmen
- Los Realejos
- Puerto de Mogán
- Las Galletas
- La Orotava
- Anaga
- San Agustín
- Adeje
- San Bartolomé de Tirajana
- Puerto de la Cruz
- Los Cristianos
- Arrecife
- El Médano
- Orzola
- Masca
- Taurito
- Los Gigantes
- Fañabé
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Santiago del Teide
- Garachico
- Punta del Hidalgo
- La Caleta
- Balearic Islands
-
Barcelona
-
Benalmádena
-
Cádiz
-
Córdoba
-
Jerez de la Frontera
-
Lleida
-
Málaga
-
Santander
-
Seville
-
Toledo
-
Canary Islands
Festivals in Porto Santo
Festivals:
As with many other island destinations in the area such as the Canary Islands and Madeira, Porto Santo celebrates its religious festivals with intense vigour and colour. Days of importance are attended by locals and tourists alike and are often feasts of colour, music and dance that go on late into the night. Whatever the occasion, expect a massive turnout, fantastic food, local music and most importantly, be prepared to dance until you drop. The island itself is so small that if by chance there is a festival going on, all you need do is follow the music. Most of these take place in Vila Baleira.
Twelfth Night Celebration
The festival of the Twelfth Night is celebrated from dawn until the following day on Porto Santo island. An enormous festival that draws in crowds from the entire island as well as from Madeira and the Canary Islands. Here, people dress in formal island attire, sing popular Porto Santo songs and play out nativity scenes.
Date: 6th January
The Festival of Saint Amaro
Another huge festival which is similar in style to the Twelfth Night. Here islanders dress in similar outfits and bring musical instruments with them on a procession across the entire town of Vila Baleira. Traditional songs on local stringed instruments such as braguinhas, rajões and mandolins are played and only cease at daybreak!
Date: 15th January
Festivities of Saint John
Saint John is the patron saint of Porto Santo and it is the most important event of the island’s calendar. The festival move through many phases such as a mass procession, fireworks, local sports competitions between locals, and of course, music and dancing. This summertime fiesta is perhaps the most indicative of the population of Porto Santo and for anyone keen on sampling authentic local culture, this one should not be missed.
Date: 23rd - 24th June
Our Lady of Grace Festival
This festival is celebrated just over two weeks after the fiesta of Saint John and gathers hundreds of islanders into a giant procession around Vila Baleira after a religious liturgy. Both of these events are followed by a huge street party serving local food and drink.
Date: 14th – 15th August
Our Lady of Mercy Festival
This festival is a standard (although very loud and colourful!) celebration of the Virgin Mary, which attracts religious worshippers and local partygoers wanting to hear traditional music, eat, drink and dance around the island.
Date: 30th – 31st August
Vineyards Festival
More of a local institution than a fiesta, the vineyards festival offers an amazing opportunity for visitors to sample all of the different wines that are produced in Porto Santo and Madeira. Expect fierce competition from the local producers and make sure that you eat some of the many traditional culinary dishes that are served across the festival’s food stalls in the centre of Vila Baleira.
Date: The last three days of August
Columbus Festival
Porto Santo’s most illustrious resident is celebrated for an entire week in September. Here, the life of Christopher Columbus is re-played in street theatre, exhibitions and medieval scenes. The most spectacular of these is a re-enactment of Columbus’ departure from the port, which is followed by a giant procession to mark the event in which he left the island for Spain, before departing to the Americas.
Date: 15th September