| BARCELOS |
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Located on a hill above the River Cavado, Barcelos is one of
the prettiest places in the north of Portugal. From its origins
as a settlement in Roman times, the town later developed into
a flourishing agricultural centre and achieved political importance
during the 15th century as the seat of the First Duke of Bragança.
Today, Barcelos is best known for its pottery, most notably
the brightly-painted clay cockerel, whose crowing saved a man
from the gallows according to the local legend. What to see.
Built in 1704, the octagonally-shaped church of Senhora da Cruz
was built over an old chapel where a local cobbler was said
to have had a miraculous vision of a cross etched into the ground.
Today the 500 year old Feast of the Crosses occurs each May
in this church. Home to the huge weekly market, the centrally-located
Campo da República is one of the largest open squares in Portugal.
Each Thursday, visitors can browse amongst the market's vast
range of Portuguese pottery, most of which is handmade in small
cottages and factories in the surrounding countryside. Destroyed
by the great earthquake of 1755, the ruins of the Dukes of Bragança
Palace now serve as an open-air museum featuring a 15th-century
cross depicting the story of the cockerel. Nearby. At Areias
de Vilar, 7 km from Barcelos, the 15th-century Benedictine church
of Vilar de Frades features a west front dating back to the
11th century. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
