Living Travel - Barcelos, Portugal
Barcelos is a city and a municipality in Braga District in the Minho Province, in the north of Portugal. The city is 15 km inland bordering the River Cavado, about 50 km north of Porto. A medieval arch bridge joins it to the village of Barcelinhos. It is one of the growing municipalities in the country, specialising in the textile and adobe industries. Originally a Roman settlement, it became the seat of the first Duke of Braganca in the 15th century. The town's famous symbol is the rooster, based on the legend: "A man who was accused of stealing claimed that before he was hanged, a rooster would crow 3 times to prove his innocence - and it did!"
Barcelos town square, with the Church of Senhor da Cruz decorated for the 3 day Rooster Festival
In the square of Barcelos
Above right: one of of the many other charicature sculptures in Barcelos
There are many souvenir shops selling ceramic objects, including a variety of roosters
Perhaps the Barcelos pottery tradition stems from the Coto family who have been producing ceramic objects for over 100 years
- like the above devils by Prazeres, great grand-daughter of Domingos Coto
The festival decorations were best seen by night
View across the River Cavado to Barcelinhos, joined to Barcelos by this14th century bridge
Churches in Barcelos
Inside the Church of Senhor da Cruz, (see above)
The Church of Matriz de Santa Maria de Barcelos
