The registration was approved by the public institute Património Cultural, as per the directive dated March 26, 2025, published today in the Diário da República.
The document highlights the significance of this practice as a religious tradition integral to the population of São Miguel island, particularly for the various groups of pilgrims that exist and extend to other islands of the Azores archipelago.
The document also considers the current dynamics surrounding the Lenten pilgrimages of São Miguel and the methods in which their intergenerational transmission occurs, involving strong community presence, according to a press release from the institute.
Also known as Lenten pilgrimages, formerly referred to as Visits to the Little Houses of Our Lady, this practice is considered an ethnographic phenomenon of great interest due to the originality of certain inherent elements, as well as its persistence over the centuries.
The public institute also highlights the “spirit of unity and fraternity” demonstrated by the pilgrims along the roads of São Miguel, recognizing it as a unique cultural and religious phenomenon of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, which now also takes place on the islands of Terceira, Graciosa, and Santa Maria, as well as in the diaspora (Canada and the United States).
Special mention is made of the children’s pilgrimages organized by schools, which last an afternoon, and the women’s pilgrimages in the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, where since 2004 they undertake a day’s journey.
The inclusion of the pilgrims in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage resulted from a proposal presented by the Movimento de Romeiros de São Miguel, based on research coordinated by Carmen Ponte, supported by the association, and with the collaboration of photographer Fernando Resendes.
Speaking to the agency, João Carlos Leite, president of the coordinating group of the Movimento de Romeiros de São Miguel, emphasized that the registration adds value to this 500-year-old religious practice, which remains “strongly embedded” and with “significant potential for further growth.”
“It is a cherished and appreciated practice by the entire Micaelense community, with a very strong presence locally and across the island,” he stated, highlighting the increasingly pronounced social, cultural, and pastoral involvement of the pilgrims in various parishes.
João Carlos Leite added that the registration is “the first step” towards evolving into a candidacy for Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The leader emphasized that this is an “intergenerational movement.” “Following the pandemic, there was a noticeable absence of young people in the pilgrimages. However, this year, there was a significant increase in young participants,” he noted, indicating that the movement aims to promote the religious manifestation within schools so that younger individuals can “understand the reality of the pilgrimages” and experience it.
The Lenten pilgrimages originated following the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that occurred in the 16th century on the island, devastating Vila Franca do Campo and causing significant destruction in Ribeira Grande.
Attired in a shawl, scarf, staff, and rosary, the pilgrims of São Miguel embark on a journey of prayer, faith, and reflection, singing hymns and praying, always with the sea on their left, passing by as many churches and chapels as possible on São Miguel.
The first groups of São Miguel pilgrims depart on the weekend following Ash Wednesday, with the last returning to their locales on Holy Thursday.
During the week they are on the road, the pilgrims sleep in private homes or parish halls, starting their journey before dawn and entering localities right after sunset.
