Chapel of São Gonçalinho

Here it is, nestled in the middle of a calçada portuguesa pavement, where wave-like patterns ripple across the stone mosaic. You’ve arrived at the Beira Mar district’s iconic landmark, the Chapel of São Gonçalinho. This small, hexagonal chapel with its striking blue-and-white tiled dome was built in the 18th century and dedicated to Saint Gonçalo. He’s Aveiro’s patron saint, known for his matchmaking skills and venerated for healing bone-related ailments. Each year, on the Sunday closest to January 10th, the people of Beira Mar celebrate their beloved saint with one of the city’s liveliest festivals. One key tradition is the Entrega do ramo, a symbolic handover of a sacred bouquet to the mordomos, the local volunteers who will organise the next year’s festivities. Another local custom is the Dança dos Mancos, a circle dance performed by a group of men pretending to limp, to the rhythm of traditional songs. The most iconic moment of the festivities is the launch of the cavacas. From the chapel’s exterior balcony, several kilos of these dry Portuguese pastries, made from egg whites and flour and topped with icing, are thrown into the air, one for each vow made. Below, the crowd eagerly tries to catch them. People gather with open hands, upside-down umbrellas, fishing nets, and even butterfly nets, hoping to take one home. Everyone has their own trick! Listed as a site of public interest since 2011, the Chapel of São Gonçalinho is more than a religious monument, it’s a vibrant symbol of Aveiro’s living culture and beloved traditions.