Mãe Soberana

Mãe Soberana is a religious festival held in Loulé in honour of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. It centres on the procession of a magnificent statue of Mãe Soberana. This statue was carved in wood, probably in the late 16th century (likely by an Algarve sacred-art sculptor inspired by Michelangelo's famous marble work, carved at the age of 23 in the late 15th century), and is traditionally carried on the shoulders of eight strong men on a heavy processional float. It is an artistic work inscribed in the growing Marian cult that began after the first Feast of the Immaculate Conception, held on 28 February 1476 at papal initiative.

First comes the celebration of the Festa Pequena on Easter Sunday, when the statue of Mãe Soberana is carried by the Homens do Andor from the Sanctuary of Nossa Sra. da Piedade to the Church of S. Francisco. Two weeks later, as tradition demands at the Festa Grande, a huge crowd fills the streets of Loulé, taking part in religious ceremonies and accompanying the patron saint of Loulé back to the Sanctuary on the hilltop. The culmination of the Mãe Soberana Festival — with its strong cultural and tourism dimension — is the fireworks display.