Nossa Senhora Da Piedade (Fisherman’s Festivity)

The traditional “Nossa Senhora da Piedade” Festivity is celebrated every year in Caniçal parish.

Thousands of people participate in the festivity in honour of Our Lady of Mercy, which is held on the third weekend of September. This festivity is very similar to other religious festivals in Madeira, a religious festivity to be held between September 14th and 15th.

The particularity of this festival is that the procession is made by sea to the small chapel located at the top of the hillside.
The ritual is as follows: on Saturday afternoon, there is a procession that goes to the chapel to get the figure, which then remains in church of Caniçal overnight.
On Sunday, the people join again in procession to return the image to its place of origin, thus ending the festivities.