Nazaré
The village of Nazaré
The name Nazaré was attributed in 1912 to the urban assemblage formed by the population centres of Praia , Sítio and Pederneira, with different chronological and communitarian origins, but interconnected by the urban part.
Praia (Beach)
The beach of Nazaré has a relatively recent origin, until the 17th century the sea occupied most of the area where today stand the houses. The quick geological transformations occurred during that century made the retreat of the sea and the silting up of the area, leaving the lovely bay uncovered.
The first references of fishing in Nazaré date from 1643, however, only in the beginning of the 19th century did the population start to live in the new beach. Until then, the fishermen lived, mainly, in the upper parts – Sítio and Pederneira – since the constant attacks of Algerian and Dutch pirates made the beach a very unsafe place. Nazaré was first known and demanded as a seaside resort in the middle of the 19th century. Its natural beauty and typical characteristics drew the visitors’ attention. Fishing, fish transformation and its sale were the main activities of the population during most of the 20th century. The harsh and dangerous sea life have made many fishermen leave their hometown seeking for better living conditions. The construction of the new Harbour, in the 1980s, has changed and improved the fishermen’s living conditions, thus starting a new period on the population’s daily life.
In the 1960s, tourism discovered the charm of the beach and the town became known all over the world. Every year, Nazaré receives the visit of thousands of national and international tourists, being today a modern and always lively town. To walk down its narrow streets towards the sea, is to discover a way of living still genuine and peculiar, with surprises at every corner!
Beauty, memories, charisma and traditions make Nazaré the most unforgettable Portuguese beach.
Sítio
Sítio, on the top of the promontory, is a place of religiosity and pilgrimage since the 12th century associated to the legend of Our Lady of Nazaré and to the cult of Mary. Due to the difficult access, Sítio began to develop only in the middle of the 17th century and had a significant growth on the following century. The installation of a Funicular linking “ Praia" to “Sítio”, in 1889, originated a new population increase as well as tourist visits.
The Suberco Belvedere, at 110 meters high, offers the visitor one of the most beautiful sea views of Portugal. Pederneira
This part of the town has been a fishermen’s land since the 12th century, and was once called “Seno Petronero” which means Gulf of Pederneira . In those times the village was placed farther inland and fishing in the gulf was the main activity of the population. The village developed, in the end of the 15th century, with the arrival of fishermen from the nearby seaport of Paredes, which was destroyed by the silting up of its harbour.
Pederneira was one of the most important seaports of the lands of the Cistercian Monastery of Alcobaça. During the golden age of the Portuguese Discoveries – 15th and 16th centuries – it was one the most active shipbuilding yards of the kingdom, from where sailed away many vessels and caravels. By the Pederneira seaport were shipped out the goods and woods from the King’s Pinewood to the capital and overseas. Out of the fishermen’s population were recruited many sailors to the Indian Sea Route .
The development of Sítio and the progressive draw back of the sea due to the silting up of the gulf, and the formation of the new beach, led to the decline of Pederneira in the end of the 18th century. Not even the arrival of fishermen from the area of the Aveiro Ria was enough to give it some vitality. Slowly the inhabitants moved to the new bay.
Nowadays, Pederneira is one of the town centres, peaceful and pleasant; an attentive belvedere of the sea and of the beach bellow, guardian of past memories.
Itineraries
| |  | Duration: 1 day or 2 half-days Distance: about 6km Means of Transportation: Funicular and on foot Beginning of the Route: Tourist Office of Nazaré, República Avenue , 17
Photo: Pedralva Park and Monte Branco belvedere | | | | |
Leaving the Tourist Office go to the Sousa de Oliveira Square, and once there, turn right, follow by the Elevador Alley and go up to Sítio da Nazaré on the Funicular; if you prefer to go on foot, by the Sítio Ladeira (large stone stairs), ascending the Dr. Ruy Rosa Street, and turning left on Dr. José Laborinho Marques da Silveira Street, on the top of which starts the Ladeira. Once on the top, start by appreciating the magnificent view you have over the beach ofNazaré, the town’s Fishing and Leisure Harbour,and over Pederneira and Saint Bras Hill. Go down to the Suberco Belvedere and visit the Memory Chapel. Afterwards admire the century-old Sanctuary ofOur Lady of Nazaré and on its the right wing the Parish-Priest Luís Nesi Sacred Art Museum. Leave the Sanctuary by the right-hand side, and almost in front of it, you will find the Chaby Pinheiro Theatre. Going down the D. Fuas Roupinho Street find the traditions of Nazaré in the Dr. Joaquim Manso Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum. Go back to Our Lady of Nazaré Square and come down by the Farol Road to the Saint Michael Archangel Fort, where the extraordinary horizons that your eyes can reach make the effort of the descending worthwhile. Here, you have two possibilities: 1 – go back to Sítio for lunch. 2 – go down to Norte Beach and bring a picnic lunch, take a peep at the Forno d’Orca natural Cave, have your lunch and then calmly go by the shore up to Norpark (Aqua park), going back to Sítio. In the afternoon, return to the beach of Nazaré (by the Funicular or on foot) to go visit Pederneira. Go up the Adrião Batalha Street to visit the Fisherman’s House-Museum. Continuing your upward course, crossing the E.N. 242 ( National Road ) , get in the Pedralva Park and admire Nazaré from the Monte Branco Belvedere. Follow the E.N. 8-5 and turn right to discover Pederneira. Here we suggest you to visit the Bastião Fernandes Square, where you can find the Old Town-Hall, the Pillory and the Our Lady of the Sands Parish Church . A little further up are the Mercy Church and the Pederneira Belvedere. Once again you have two options: 1 – We suggest the brave and long walks lovers’ to go on to Saint Bartholomew’s Hill (locally known as Saint Bras Hill). The way up to the top can be done by the East (earth scooped steps) and West slopes (a concrete staircase), and the descent should be done by the opposite slope. 2 – For the less adventurers we propose to go back to Nazaré, to stroll in the narrow streets running down to the sea and find out a very special and still very characteristic way of life. | | | Duration: 1 day or 2 half-days Distance: about 5km Means of Transportation: on foot Beginning of the Route: Nazaré Municipal Market, Vieira Guimarães Avenue Photo: "Estendal", where the fishwives are drying horse-mackerels and sardines among other species | | | | | Start your morning with a visit to the Municipal Market, where the colouring and the excitement will give you a nice beginning to your day. Continue by the Sub-Vila Street, the main commercial street of the town, go down the António Carvalho Laranjo Street, peep, on the left-hand side, the two traditional housing patios (Pátio José Paiva and Pátio Manuel Pinto) and a little afterwards turn right on the first corner. From here, you may take your own path, from corner to corner, from street to street, sweeping your eyes through the many nuances that the perpendicularity of the streets offers you. When you find J. B. Sousa Lobo Street, go up to meet the Fisherman’s House-Museum. Go down the Adrião Batalha Street to the seafront, here turn right and carry on to Sousa Oliveira Square. On Independência Nacional Square turn left to Leiria Street and go to Cedros Square. Find the charm of the Nazarene WomanMonument. Go to Elevador Square, turn right and then you will find the Funicular Station Platform, glance through it and keep going up the Elevador Street. By the seafront you will find, on the right-hand side of the street, the Saint Anthony Chapel. After the visit, follow by the right-hand side, northward, up to the Norte StreetBelvedere. Sit down, take a short break and relax, admiring the bay. Have lunch in one of the many restaurants that Praia offers you. Start your afternoon with a walk on the Marginal Avenue, from the north to the south, simultaneously admiring the houses and the seashore. Seize the chance to discover the Cultural Centre of Nazaré (building where, between 1961 and 1986, the fish auction was held). Back to the Marginal enjoy the old tradition of sun-drying the fish in “Estendal” (drying ground), where the fishwives are drying horse-mackerels and sardines among other species. Calmly walk up to the town’s Fishing and Leisure Harbour. From 5 p.m. on, from Monday to Friday, starts the fish auction and the boats download the catches of the day. Stand by and watch, talk to the fishermen and fishwives and take a close look at the way of life of the local people. By the end of the afternoon, get back to the centre of the town to eat a tasty fish-stew or an aromatic grilled fresh fish. |
| | | Duration: 1 day or 2 half-days Distance: about 6km Means of Transportation: on foot and by Funicular Beginning of the Route: Funicular station platform, Elevador Alley
Photo: The centur-old Funicular offers an unforgettable panoramic view | | | | | | |
Start by going up to Sítio on the century-old Funicular. It is not a belvedere but offers an unforgettable panoramic view. After getting out from the station platform, go down by the Reitor Baptista Square to Terreiro (or Nossa Senhora da Nazaré Square ). Right opposite you will find the Bandstand and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré (optional visit), keep on, crossing the Square, and follow by the Farol Road towards the Saint Michael Archangel Fort (where is located the Lighthouse). Admire the diversity of the landscape, to the right over the Norte beach, to the left over the sea and the beach of Nazaré . Arriving to the Fortress (closed to visitors), go down by the right-hand side of the barbican (defensive wall). In the back you will find a metallic staircase that invites you to go down to the rocks and have a close look to Pedra do Guilhim (rock beaten by the sea, right opposite). Going down by the staircase and turning left you will find a little narrow balcony on the rocks. Exceptional belvedere over the sea and the beach of Nazaré , this is also a fine sportive fishing point (angling). Take a rest, enjoy the beautiful view and then go back by the road or by the pathway at the side of the promontory up to Suberco Belvedere. This is considered by many as the one that offers the most beautiful seascape of the Portuguese coastline. Right beside the Suberco Belvedere, on the left, you will find Bico da Memória, the Vasco da Gama Stone Monument and the little Memory Chapel, century- old miracle and pilgrimage places. Follow by the sidewalk, on the right side, and between two handicraft shops you will find a staircase. Climb it. A new belvedere and a new perspective over the town. Continue alongside this belvedere, watching the smartly set perpendicular houses beneath, and foreseeing the next visit to the heights of Pederneira and Saint Bartholomew’s Hill (Saint Bras). When you come near the funicular station platform, above the funicular line, you will find, at the end of the Belvedere, the Sítio Ladeira (large stone stairs). Make your way back to the beach by this pathway. Seize the lunch time to delight yourself with a tasty grilled fresh fish or another Nazarene speciality in one of the many restaurants you will find along the way. The Pedralva Park is your next stop after lunch. Go in the park and walk along your right-hand side. Half-way you will see some steps that you should climb, it will take you to the Monte Branco Belvedere and to a new perspective of the town. Go back to the Pedralva Garden and continue your walk, seizing the corners of light and shadow. Arriving to the top of the park continue by the sidewalk to enter Pederneira, natural Belvedere with a unique beauty, that allows you to enjoy the many landscape nuances, along your way up to the Misericórdia Square. It is in this Square, which has the Church with the same name (optional visit), that your horizons spread and Nazaré acquires a new and total dimension. Your return to Praia should be done by Abel da Silva Street , admiring when passing by the Bastião Fernandes Square: the Pillory, the Old Town Hall and the Our Lady of the Sands ParishChurch. Once arrived to E.N. 8-5 (national road), right on the exit of Pederneira, on the left-hand side, you will find Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. On the back side of the Park, close to the wall that surrounds it, you will find a staircase with large steps. Take a “lift” by that way and you will quickly arrive to E.N. 242 (national road), cross it, turn left and go down the Vieira Guimarães Avenue towards the sea. |
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