Portugal for Travellers and Tourists » Myths and Legends Archive » Portugal for Travellers and Tourists

Tágides or the Tagus Nymphs

theperfecttourist — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 22:53:39 +0000

Are mythological beings that inhabited the river Tagus, first were mentioned in a poem by André de Resende and later immortalized by Camões in his masterpiece – Os Lusiadas.

In the heart of Lisbon there´s a fountain called Luminosa /Luminous where some of these creatures were carved in stone some standing, some on their knees coming out of the water holding their sea shells that announced the sea..til today we say that if we listen closely we can hear the ocean inside one.

In a modern approach made of wood, can be seen in front of the Atlantic Pavilion in the Walk of the Tagus Nymphs coming out of a shallow lake.

São Pedro de Moel legend

theperfecttourist — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:36:32 +0000

A small town in the middle of Leiria´s Pinewood with a great beach, characterized by a cold and agitated water, that is well known among surfers and bodyboarders.

Legend says that the Duchess of Caminha, daughter of the Counts of Faro, daily cried the death of her husband in a huge and imposing rock resulting hence its name, “Penedo da Saudade” , on top of which is currently a lighthouse with the same name. There are still those who claim that the lamentations of the young widow can still be heard in the middle of the sea cliff murmurs.

The Mermaid Legend – Azores

theperfecttourist — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 19:18:51 +0000

Legend of the Mermaid

In the early times of the island of Flores a blond boy with blue eyes was fishing, after a few hours it seemed that he had caught something and began to hoist the wire. For his surprise he saw a very beautiful redhead girl with very shiny hair. The mermaid explained that he could not take her out of the water because she would die and he set her free! After that they would met every evening. The days passed and they fell in love but the situation seemed impossible. One day the mermaid told him the secret that would turn her into human, the fisherman would have to boot the her gills !

After thinking about it , because it seemed a barbaric act and could kill his beloved one, decided to proceed. Suddenly after collapsing the girl was able to emerge from water and for their surprise had two legs. Like all happy endings after some time they got married. This area of the island is designated by the Ponta Ruiva/Redhead Edge, because the boy was fishing at the tip of the rock and the color of the mermaid´s hair. This is a part of the island where most of the population is blonde / redhead and has blue eyes!

Legend of the Miracle of the Roses

theperfecttourist — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:04:54 +0000

This is one of the best known Portuguese legends that extols the goodness of Queen Isabel to all her subjects, to whom she took alms and words of comfort . The story goes that a spiteful noble informed King Dinis that the Queen was spending too much on the work of churches , convents grants , donations and other charitable work and convinced him to put an end to these excesses . The King decided to surprise the Queen in the morning when she was on her way to the works of Santa Clara for the usual distribution of alms and noticed she disguised her lap. Questioned by D. Dinis , the Queen said that were ornaments for the altars in the monastery, but the King insisted for he had been informed that the queen was disobeying his prohibitions. Suddenly and more confident Isabel replied ” Deceive you Royal Lord for I carry it in my lap roses … ” The angry king accused her of being a lier : how could she have roses in January? And before the astonished eyes of all Queen Isabel showed the beautiful bunch of roses she kept under cover . The King was speechless, was convinced by the a supernatural phenomenon and eventually apologize to the Queen who continued her intention to go take alms . The news of the miracle ran the city of Coimbra and the people proclaimed holy Queen Isabel of Portugal

The Legend of the 3 doors of Leiria’s Cathedral, in Leiria

theperfecttourist — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 12:14:57 +0000

Once upon a time in Leiria lived a very rich, powerful and covetous man who did not know how to save his treasures .

He spent days and nights cogitate a way so that thieves would not steal his fortune .Until he decided to build three long tunnels and at the end of one tunnel he placed all his gold, silver and precious stones like it had never been seen before.

The tunnels were made at the foot of the hill bellow Leiria’s Castle.

The tunnel’s doors were closed and the man spread the word that at the end of one was all his wealth, by the end of another was hunger and the third had the plague.

An atmosphere of real horror was created and it protected his wealth from thieves. From that day on he slept peacefully.

The doors can still be seen on the wall of the Cathedral and became known as the 3 doors of the Cathedral