For three days, Canha, known for its tranquility and natural beauty, was transformed into a true medieval setting.
Useful Links
The oldest town in the municipality of Montijo held a historical reenactment transporting visitors back to 1235, the year in which Vila Nova de Canha received its charter from the Order of Santiago during the reign of King Sancho II.
The first edition of the Canha Medieval Fair featured a diverse and exciting program. See the full program here.
Fire shows lit up the nights, while medieval music concerts transported visitors to another era. There were also three major concerts outside the Burgo with Galandum Galundaina, Sebastião Antunes e Quadrilha, and Barro Negro.
Moonlight Suppers
With music, historical reenactments, and plenty of entertainment between courses, “From the Lands of Canha to the Table”, medieval dinners from the time of King Sancho II attracted large crowds.
Tournaments
Weapons and horseback tournaments and parades alluding to the era completed the immersion in the Middle Ages.
Dances
There were games for children and adults, traditional and Arabic dances, horsemen, theater, an exhibition of the royal chambers, and a colloquium on Canha in the Middle Ages, facade contests, immersive games, and a whole magical atmosphere of the time with its craftsmen and merchants.
With free admission, this Fair was mainly held within the gates of the village of Canha, in the square and in the Canha Ethnographic Museum, and counted on the indispensable participation of all the groups and associations of Canha: Sta. Casa da Misericórdia, Associação dos Bombeiros Voluntários de Canha, Casa do Povo de Canha, Comissão de Festas, as well as many other groups organized with the people of Canha specifically for this event.
What set the Medieval Fair apart was the quality of the participating groups and the interaction with the local people, who also took part in small theatrical performances and traditional dances, which, thanks to CIRCULODEMAJALIS, made the whole festival the success that it was.
This event was promoted by the Montijo City Council and organized by our association CIRCULODEMAJALIS with the support of the Canha Parish Council and Turismo de Portugal through Dr. Carla Salsinha, president of the Lisbon Region Regional Tourism Authority.
Interview with Honorina Silvestre
President of the CIRCULODEMAJALIS association
Support and Acknowledgements
Our thanks to Dr. Carla Salsinha, President of the regional tourism authority for the Lisbon region, for her sensitivity in understanding our project for the Canha Medieval Fair, and for her willingness to accept to submit it to Portugal Events*.
Application to Portugal Events
External Links
Some external articles on this year’s edition of the Canha Medieval Fair:
- Montijo On City »> Canha Viaja no Tempo: Feira Medieval inédita promete agitar a região em julho
- Diário do Distrito »> Canha transforma-se numa autêntica vila medieval com feira histórica imperdível!
- O Cidadão: Canha revive o ano de 1235 com a sua primeira Feira Medieval
- O Setubalense: Feira Medieval de Canha arranca esta tarde com um modelo diferenciado
- Gazeta Rural: 1.ª Feira Medieval de Canha de 11 a 13 de julho