Guided church heritage visits begin in Ribeira Grande on 25 October
Azores GuideThe Diocese of Angra's free programme of guided visits to religious heritage sites in São Miguel runs from October to December as part of PDL26.
The Diocese of Angra will begin its "Visitas aos Tesouros das Igrejas" programme on 25 October at 15:30, with a guided visit to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Estrela and the Arcano Místico in Ribeira Grande. Mário Moura will lead the visit.
The programme runs in São Miguel between October and December and is part of Ponta Delgada, Capital Portuguesa da Cultura 2026. It is promoted by the Diocese's Serviço dos Bens Culturais in coordination with PDL26's Religiosidade curatorship.
The opening visit will cover the church's retables, including that of the Reis Magos, the high altar choir stalls, ceiling mural painting and the Flemish triptych of Santo André. It will then continue at the Casa do Arcano Místico, which holds a nativity scene made by Madre Margarida do Apocalipse.
Further visits are scheduled at Igreja de São Pedro in Ponta Delgada on 31 October at 14:30; Igreja de São Sebastião in Ponta Delgada on 7 November at 15:30; Igreja de São Miguel and Igreja da Misericórdia in Vila Franca do Campo on 14 November at 15:30; and Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Esperança in Ponta Delgada on 15 November at 15:30.
The calendar also includes Igreja de Santa Cruz in Lagoa on 22 November at 15:30, Igreja do Convento da Caloura in Lagoa on 29 November at 15:30, and Igreja de São José in Ponta Delgada on 5 December at 14:30. Researchers and invited specialists will contextualize the spaces and objects during the visits, according to the Diocese.
Participation is free, but advance registration is required and places are limited. Registration and further information are available on the initiative's official page on the PDL26 website.
Sources
Azores Guide
Author