With the rain and bad weather we are experiencing, the sunny and hot days of summer seem even further away. However, there is some news that serves as a ‘warm-up’ for the season of big events: we already know when the Medieval Journey will once again ‘invade’ Santa Maria da Feira, in an edition that promises to be historic.
Located less than 30 minutes from Porto, the city of Santa Maria da Feira is home to one of the largest historical reenactments in Europe. In 2026, Viagem Medieval will celebrate its 30th anniversary, promising even more excitement between July 29 and August 9. For 12 days, this immersive time machine will transport us back to the era of the County of Portugal, inviting us to experience the beginnings of our identity.
What to expect from the 30th anniversary?
The Medieval Journey began in 1996, confined to the Praça de Armas (Arms Square) of the Castle of Santa Maria da Feira, with only a two-year hiatus: in 1998 and 2021. For this reason, the historical reenactment celebrates 30 years of life and 29 editions this summer. But what can we expect this year?
“A new look, new protagonists, and new programming content” is how the organization describes the essence of this edition, which returns to its starting point. That is, 16 years after the first sequential reenactment, which marked a turning point in the Medieval Journey. Since then, the narrative has covered all the kings and reigns of the Middle Ages in Portugal.
Portucalense County and the cradle of nationality
Portugal’s roots are intrinsically linked to the history of the County of Portugal, donated in 1096 by the King of León and Castile, Afonso VI, to Count Henry of Burgundy, as well as the hand of his daughter Teresa. Years later, these lands stretching from Minho to Coimbra sparked a war between mother and son: on one side, Afonso Henriques; on the other, Teresa, supported by the Galician nobleman Fernão Peres de Traya.
This irremediable tension led to the taking up of arms in the famous Battle of São Mamede in 1128, which culminated in the victory of D. Afonso Henriques. This feat led to the imprisonment of Teresa, with her son not only assuming leadership of the County of Portugal, but also establishing what would become the Kingdom of Portugal, with independence in 1143.
The foundations have been laid for a great journey that has been in preparation since September 2025. All this thanks to a multidisciplinary team that has been working on the content, logistics, security, and accessibility of what is one of the largest historical reenactments in Europe.
Useful information for your visit
📍Historic Center of Santa Maria da Feira (various stages and themed areas)
🗓️July 29 to August 9
🎫General wristband – €10 (until July 15); Royal wristband – €15 (until July 15); daily tickets from Sunday to Thursday – €6; daily tickets on Fridays and Saturdays (€8).
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