The Pirates in Leça da Palmeira are back!

From the 8th to the 10th of July - Next to the Forte da Nª Sra das Neves (Largo do Castelo)

The recent discovery made in Perafita, by the Archeology Office of the Municipality of Matosinhos, of a fortification with about a thousand years, most likely intended to protect coastal populations from the Vikings' attack, has reminded us that, for centuries, the history of this region was also made of pirates and piracy. Normans, Moors, French, English, Dutch…

From an early age, deeply linked to the sea through fishing, salt production and shipbuilding, Matosinhos will also stand out, from the 12th century onwards, as a land of famous “men of the sea” linked to maritime trade. And during the following centuries, namely with the Maritime Expansion, this will be, more and more, a land of sailors, pilots, foremen, captains of ships and… pirates. Indeed, to face the looting and assaults of enemy ships, the Portuguese responded with the increase of corsairs. That is, of pirates in the service of great lords or the crown itself. One of the most powerful lords in this region in the 14th century, João Rodrigues de Sá, mayor of Porto and donee of Matosinhos, had privateering boats anchored here. But it was not unique. Other nobles used Matosinhos and Leça as the port of their pirate caravels. This is the case, in the 15th century, of Fernão Coutinho, who would become one of the main promoters and patrons of the convent of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (currently Quinta da Conceição). And Gonçalves Zarco himself (who was not a natural here, came here very early and got married here), who would become famous as the “discoverer” of Madeira, was initially a privateer.

But the other pirates always continued to prowl our shores. And it was due to their robberies and the kidnapping they carried out of our seamen (to obtain ransoms) that, in the face of the crisis that the village was then experiencing, Matosinhos obtained in 1621 the royal authorization to hold a large, free fair, during the period that the Festas ao Senhor de Matosinhos lasted: a tradition that continues to this day! To prevent the action of pirates, the beaches were guarded, watchtowers were set up and fortifications were built. Like the Forte de Nª Senhora das Neves – the castle of Leça.

And there are more, many more, the links that connect Matosinhos and Leça to the pirates. But the best thing is to come (re)discover them!

See the complete program at

www.jf-matosinhoslecapalmeira.pt