Every year, the tradition is fulfilled on the streets of Viana: residents and visitors admire the work of hundreds of volunteers who, literally overnight, create the famous Salt Carpets.
The tradition
Every year, the tradition is fulfilled on the streets of Viana: residents and visitors admire the work of hundreds of volunteers who, literally overnight, create the famous Salt Carpets, a tribute to the Pilgrimage, Our Lady of Agony, and the fishing arts of Viana.
As is customary, the famous festivals in honor of the patron saint of fishermen, Our Lady of Agony, bring with them one of her most iconic trademarks: the Flower Carpets.
The story
Made since 1968 and prepared with flowers and tons of colored salt, the Salt Carpets beautify several streets along the Ribeira de Viana do Castelo, in a traditional decoration alluding to the people of the city, the patron saint and, of course, fishing.
The drawings spread across the floor represent everything from Our Lady of Agony, fishing nets, boats, nets and other elements related to fishing, symbols of each parish in the Municipality of Viana do Castelo, flowers, shells and other typically Minho ornaments.
The collection
These authentic works of art, which many workers require - always on the night of August 19th to 20th - and many visitors mobilize to the city, are one of the inspirations for our new collection, more specifically for the designs of Ribeira é Linda , A Pesca and for, with the quite self-explanatory title, Os Tapetes de Sal .
This collection, The Sea and its People , brings together elements present in our city's festivities, as well as Minho history and tradition. It's a tribute to some of our city's most distinctive characters, from the Fishermen to the Flowering Varinas , to the art of fishing and its customs, so typical and so unique.
