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Nazaré Online
Realtime images of Nazaré
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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.
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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.
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