Our Lady of the Agony Church - Viana do Castelo

The feast of the Lady of the Agony, perhaps the most celebrated pilgrimage in the Minho region, is celebrated on the weekend after August 15 (Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin), and usually includes ethnographic processions; parades on land and water, on the river Lima, with boats all decked out. The streets of the city where the religious procession, carrying the image of the Virgin, passes through are decorated with carpets of flowers.

Worship to the Lady of Agony dates back to the 18 th century and is associated with the devotion of fishing people, who thanked or celebrated the graces received during difficult times such as storms or shipwrecks. A chapel dedicated to the Good Jesus of the Holy Sepulchre of Calvary was built in 1674 at the site of the present-day sanctuary. At the beginning of the 18 th century it was, however, already veering towards Marian Devotion, being mentioned in 1706 as Chapel of Our Lady of Solitude and in 1744 bore the current title of Our Lady of Agony. In the second half of that century, the primitive chapel was enlarged and gave rise to the present church, blessed in 1759. On August 20, 1783, a solemn Mass was held; a date that would become a municipal holiday and that went on to found the origins of local pilgrimage.

During the 19 th century the building underwent several interventions and enlargements, including the construction of the current central staircase. Inside, the nave has an octagonal floor-plan, with the main chapel within it. The altarpieces and the pulpit are decorated with the so-called "talha gorda" (gilded woodcarving) from Braga. The gallery represents the scenery of Calvary, with the image of Our Lady of Agony atop. Several oil paintings, portraits of evangelists and scenes from the Passion of Christ by Italian painter Pascoal Parente can be admired, as well as an 18 th century organ.

Located in the annexes of the church are the house of the chaplain, above the sacristy, and the room of the Consistory, where several portraits of benefactors are hung. The rear tower, erected in 1868, remained displaced from the main body of the building so as not to impede pilgrims doing their rounds.