Easter festival in the Algarve – Festa das Torchas, Sao Brás de Alportel, Portugal.
Once, a few decades ago, every town in the Algarve held its own festival for Easter Sunday.
Candles would be lit, choirs competing for volume and the whole community would turn out to celebrate this religious event.
Over time this number has sadly dwindled and now, The Flower Torch Festival (Festa das Torchas Floridas) which takes place in the picturesque little town of Sao Brás de Alportel is the only one of its kind in the area.
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About the Festa das Torchas, Sao Brás de Alportel, Portugal
If you’re visiting the Algarve over Easter this is one event not to miss.
It is absolutely dripping with atmospheric history.
You feel as if you’re an interloper, spying in on a community who come together in the most colourful, beautiful way. But visitors are more than welcome.
Visiting the Easter festival in the Algarve – Festa das Torchas, Sao Brás de Alportel, Portugal
The main street is lined with flowers, volunteers starting work at 5am to line the one kilometre route of the procession. Spectators can arrive from 9.30am to walk amongst the flowers, carefully placed and filling the air with their sweet perfume.
Residents hang sheets from their balconies, decorating them in colour and movement and adding to the carnival feel of the day.
The procession
From 11am the procession begins. Slowly marching through the town the menfolk walking in groups, bedecked in their finest suits, hair slicked back, old and young coming together in a tradition that unites the generations.
Each man carries a stick overflowing with an ornate flower display. Once it was candles that topped the sticks but over the decades it has changed to flowers. Some simple and colourful others defying gravity and extravagant with blooms.
The air becomes pungent with lilies, herbs and the perfume of every kind of flower. Then the chant begins.
One of the group loudly calls out, “(He) has risen, as he said”, and the small group will stop, turn towards each other and hold their flower poles in the air calling out, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia”.
It is rhythmical and melodic and bewitching.
People peer over their balconies for a closer look and the streets throng with tourists and visitors.
For twenty minutes or more the groups make their way down the main street, stopping at intervals to call out and respond in an almost musical manner.
Local delicacies
When the procession is over the main square is full of market stalls selling local delicacies. Particularly cakes made with delicious, local almonds.
If you are nearby then do not miss this wonderful event. A tradition that has died out across the Algarve but is very much alive and thriving in the beautiful little town of Sao Brás de Alportel.
Watch our short video of our visit to the Easter festival in the Algarve – Festa das Torchas, Sao Brás de Alportel, Portugal. And don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to the Algarve with kids for lots more on this beautiful region.
Our ultimate guide to the Algarve with kids
An ultimate guide to Portugal with kids
Wow, isn’t that gorgeous. Those floral arrangements where beautiful. Its awesome to see how different countries celebrate Easter.
What a fun and meaningful festival, it’s so bright and colourful which is so picturesque
Looks so incredibly beautiful! I love the sense of community festivals can bring out amongst people, something very fitting for Easter.
It’s really lovely that th ehwole comminity gets involved and that visitors can also experience the festivities. It must have been a very special moment when the crowd cheered alleluia
This looks fantastic and a great way to celebrate easter
This looks like a great spectacle. Sadly we didn’t see anything like this on our visit, but would have loved to
What a fabulous festival! We caught one by sheer accident in Vigo a few years ago and will never forget it. Kaz