Barcelos Handicrafts and Ceramics Exhibition

The Barcelos Handicrafts and Ceramics Exhibition is the city's largest annual popular-art event and one of the most important in the entire country. Held in the City Park, it begins on the last weekend of July and runs until the second week of August, gathering virtually all of the municipality's artisans and traditional trades in a single location.

Barcelos is, by its own right, the capital of Portuguese handicrafts. It is here that the famous Barcelos Rooster was born, a national symbol, and it is also here that the renowned clay figurines (figurado) flourish, internationally recognised and kept alive by generations of potters and figurine-makers. At the exhibition, visitors can watch these masters at work up close, purchase unique pieces and discover the ancient techniques that bring clay, painted pottery and countless other craft forms to life.

More than a fair, the event is a true celebration of Minho identity. The animation programme draws on the cultural and ethnographic wealth of the municipality, with folklore and ethnographic groups recreating customs, traditional costumes, songs and traditions of the region. Music, dance and processions come alive throughout the days of the exhibition in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.

The gastronomic component is another highlight. Visitors can sample typical regional dishes, conventual sweets and local wines, rounding off a sensory experience that engages the hands, the ears and the palate.

For anyone visiting the Minho in summer, the Handicrafts and Ceramics Exhibition is a must. It combines the chance to take home authentic Portuguese craftsmanship with the experience of centuries-old traditions, in one of the ethnographically richest municipalities in Portugal. Admission is free and the setting invites leisurely strolls through the City Park, beside the Cávado river.