Nazaré Local Customs

Portugal is not particulary famous for its beer. Nevertheless, pale lager beers seem to be quite popular. I usually order Sagres or Superbock beer.

Sagres is brewed by the Central de Cervejas brewery in Vila Franca de Xira. Nowadays the Brewery is owned by a British group.

Superbock seems to be the most popular beer in Portugal and it is also well known in other countries of the world. It is brewed by the Unicer brewery, which is located in Leca do Balio in the north of Portugal.

Superbock: http://www.superbock.pt/

Sagres: http://www.cervejasagres.pt/

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One of the characteristic of Nazaré is the religiosity of its people. The risky work in the sea turned the sand stripe in a stage of prayers in the rough days. Blessings and processions are common in town, that reverences a miracle by the date of the Portuguese independence.

"Hidden" in the church, in Sítio there's a small black image of Our Lady of Nazareth, that, according to another legend was carved by St Joseph, the carpenter, and brought from Galilee to Merida, in Spain in the 5th century, and from there to Nazaré in 711.

During the middle age several hundred versions of this statue were created in Europe.

Once a large activity, the racks of drying fish in the sand almost disappeared, since the closing of the "Lota". But in front of the new cultural center (performed?...) you still may see how it is done, and imagine the look, the smell (the flies) of the large area they once used in that work.

Would you believe me if I say that I never tasted that dried fish?

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99...98...97...95...95...94... Chuí. Sold by 94 to that man in the second row. And the basket of fish was replaced by the next one, until the end of that day's catch.

Now, the "Lota" is closed, and that show is not available anymore. But the place was preserved, and is now used as a cultural center.

Good idea. I saw books and computers around, but forgive me, I only really saw those steps were for decades beat the earth of the people, and started the spreading of fresh fish to the area.

At the door, a woman looks at the sea and waits. But to make entire justice to Nazaré's women, a couple more female figures should be added running with baskets in their heads to the markets.

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Tradition is fading in Nazaré, but, if you look carefully, it's still present, specially in the old people. And that is because the fading is the result of the new opportunities of live, not for loosing respect and the love of that tradition.

Nazaré is struggling to preserve its unique culture, and, I appreciate that effort, though, sometimes, we easily understand that they are only performing for visitors.

Spring is nice in Nazaré: the beach and the streets are free of the crowds, yet, and hapinness comes with the sun and the expectations of good business with tourists.

Games come to the street, but everywhere the omnipresent displays - Quarto, Chambres, Rooms, Zimmer - remind what really matters for them.

In Portugal we use to say that "one image speaks more than 1000 words". Having that in mind, and more than 1000 pictures to post, I decided to change my behaviour, posting the pictures as soon as they are ready, and adding the comments later.
Don't get mad on me - I'm glad to share my pictures with you, and the comments will be added soon.

"According to legend the sheriff (alcaide) of Porto de Mós, Dom Fuas Roupinho, maybe a templar, was chasing on horseback a deer up a hilltop on a misty September morning in 1182 (later it was said that it was the devil, in the guise of a deer). When the deer jumped over the edge of the hilltop into the void, his fiery horse was about to follow. Then the knight invoked the intervention of the Madonna, who made the horse turn away through a supernatural effort and saved the life of the knight.

Subsequently, a chapel A Ermida da Memoria, was built very near this spot, over a grotto where stood a small statue of a Black Madonna, brought from Nazareth, Palestine. Near the chapel one can see the imprint of the horseshoe in the rock".

Notes: Excerpt taken from the net.
Sorry, no pics of the chapel.