Today, Sunday, at 4 pm, the city of Loulé hosts another Festa Grande da Mãe Soberana, one of the largest manifestations of Marian faith in Portugal.
This celebration, in honor of Our Lady of Mercy, attracts thousands of faithful and visitors annually, transforming the city into a center of devotion, tradition, and spirituality. This high point—the Festa Grande—occurs two weeks after the Festa Pequena, on the second Sunday after Easter, and takes place during the procession returning the image to its hermitage, atop Mount Senhora da Piedade.
At 4:00 pm, at Largo do Monumento Engº Duarte Pacheco, the solemn Eucharist of consecration to Our Lady takes place.
Then begins the grand procession, which will run through the city's main streets and, from Largo de S. Francisco, to the sanctuary.
Thousands of people follow the float, carried by eight men, to the rhythm of the music of the Minerva Artistas Society Philharmonic Band, in a unique display of faith, emotion, and respect. The atmosphere is marked by singing, applause, tears, and fulfilled promises, a true spectacle of popular religiosity that spans generations.
The festival concludes at 11:30 pm with a fireworks display next to the chapel. More than a local event, the Feast of the Sovereign Mother is a symbol of the Algarve's religious identity and a living testament to the deep connection between the community and its patron saint. Its importance transcends regional boundaries, being recognized nationally as one of the most authentic expressions of the Portuguese people's faith. This celebration also represents an opportunity for unity and encounter, involving not only the local population but also emigrants who return to their homeland at this time, strengthening the bonds between faith, culture, and tradition.
