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Festivals & Events in Porto
Festivals & Events

São Martinho do Porto

Porto
São Martinho magusto celebration in Pereiro village, Mação, Portugal: bonfire and roasted chestnuts in the centuries-old November tradition
Photo: Marques Maia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

São Martinho is celebrated across Portugal on 11 November with the magusto: chestnuts roasted over fire and new wine. In Porto the festival is urban and free, with castanhas vendors along Santa Catarina and Bolhão, and neighbourhood magustos open to all in areas like Bonfim and Cedofeita.

What is São Martinho

On 11 November, Portugal celebrates São Martinho, the feast of Martinho de Tours — a Roman soldier born around 316 in present-day Hungary and later Bishop of Tours. Legend has it that he cut his cloak in two to shelter a beggar. The date comes from his burial in Tours in 397 AD, not from the 1582 calendar reform (a popular explanation worth taking with a pinch of salt). What truly defines the day is the magusto: gathering around a fogueira to roast castanhas and taste the vinho novo, the first wine of the harvest. The saying puts it simply: "No dia de São Martinho, come-se castanhas e bebe-se vinho." The tradition runs deepest in the north and centre, chestnut and vineyard country; in the south the celebration leans more gastronomic than fire-centred.

How Porto celebrates it

Porto's magusto is urban, not rural: instead of fogueiras in the countryside, the city fills with street vendors selling charcoal-roasted castanhas, especially around Rua Santa Catarina, the Mercado do Bolhão, and the corners of Ribeira. The sweet woodsmoke of chestnuts is the unmistakable sign that São Martinho has arrived. Historic taverns in the centre uncork the vinho novo on the day itself, and in some neighbourhoods the tradition of pub-crawling while singing still lives on. The celebration spreads between neighbourhood events and restaurants putting out seasonal menus. A practical note: this is a street festival in November, so dress warmly and expect possible rain; the "Verão de São Martinho" (sunny days around the 11th) is a real phenomenon but not guaranteed every year, so don't count on it.

Where to experience the magusto in Porto

For something authentic and free, head to the community neighbourhood magustos. In Bonfim, the União de Freguesias do Centro Histórico organises one in Parque das Camélias — though it's geared towards senior residents (over 60) with prior registration, so it's not really for tourists. More open to all is the community magusto of Guindalense FC, on Escada dos Guindais, with chestnuts, traditional music and free entry. In Cedofeita, Coração Alecrim puts on a magusto with an alternative vibe — chestnuts and mulled wine. For a sit-down meal, restaurants in Ribeira such as O Barrica serve a São Martinho menu (mushrooms, cured meats, game, chestnut dessert). Dates and programmes change each year: check agenda-porto.pt and agendaculturalporto.org from October onwards for the latest lineup.

Practical tips: what to eat and drink

The star of the show is castanhas assadas, bought hot from street vendors for a few euros a cone — peel them carefully to avoid burning your fingers. For drinks, there are three traditional options. Vinho novo, the freshly made wine, is the easiest to find in taverns and wine bars like Prova or Wine Quay Bar. Jeropiga is a sweet fortified drink (grape must cut with aguardente, 16–20% alcohol) sold bottled in wine shops and Porto supermarkets in November. Água-pé (water run through grape pomace, light at 3–8% and slightly rosé) is the hardest to track down: it's a homemade harvest drink rarely seen in tourist restaurants — look for it at neighbourhood associations or rural producers. One tip: go easy on the jeropiga; its sweetness is deceptively potent.

Frequently asked questions

When and where is São Martinho celebrated in Porto?
São Martinho falls on 11 November across Portugal, including Porto. There's no single venue: the festival plays out in the streets, with chestnut vendors along Santa Catarina, Bolhão and Ribeira, plus neighbourhood magustos in areas like Bonfim, Guindais and Cedofeita. Exact dates for each event vary from year to year.
Is it free to join the magusto?
Yes. São Martinho is a free, open-access festival. Neighbourhood community magustos typically have free entry, and street chestnuts cost just a few euros a cone. You only pay if you opt for a special menu at a restaurant or a private gastronomic event, which will have a set price and require a reservation.
What are água-pé and jeropiga?
Both are traditional magusto drinks. Água-pé is made by running water through grape pomace; it's light (3–8% alcohol), slightly rosé and almost always homemade — hard to find in Porto. Jeropiga blends grape must with aguardente: the result is sweet and strong (16–20%), and it is sold bottled in wine shops and supermarkets in November.
Why are chestnuts eaten on São Martinho?
Because in mid-November two things coincide in northern and central Portugal: chestnuts are ripe and the new wine is ready to taste. Hence the magusto and the saying "come-se castanhas e bebe-se vinho." The tradition has deep harvest roots; the 11 November date comes from the burial of Martinho de Tours in 397 AD.

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