We need to know how to interpret and distinguish legends from reality, as well as why these legends exist in the culture of each people and region. Portugal is a country extremely rich in stories, myths, and ancient legends, which inspire customs and superstitions. There are hundreds of Portuguese legends, tales, sayings, and popular beliefs that make our culture so rich and interesting.

Told in the evenings in the cold winters by our ancestors, from werewolves to fairies, witches to mermaids, ghosts and feathered souls to the miracles of saints, there isn’t a creature that our folklore doesn’t include, with the exception, perhaps, of vampires, because this isn’t a subject that is part of our legendary imagination.

But not all Portuguese legends are about creatures and monsters. Many of them reveal lands and people of courage, stories of revenge, justice, impossible loves, and perfect loves, others concern true events but with touches of imagination, probably to increase the dramatic or heroic charge of what really happened.

In fact, legends are such an important part of Portugal’s core that some even precede the country’s history, such as the legend of the Battle of Ourique. The legend goes that shortly before the battle, Afonso Henriques was visited by an old man, whom the man who would become Portugal’s first king four years later believed he had seen in his dreams.

The man gave him a prophetic revelation of victory. He also told him to leave the camp alone the following night, as soon as he heard the bell from the hermitage where the old man lived. The king did so.

It was then that a ray of light illuminated everything around him, allowing him to gradually make out the Sign of the Cross and Jesus Christ crucified. Overcome with emotion, he knelt down and heard the voice of the Lord, who promised him victory in this and other battles. The next day, Afonso Henriques won the battle.

According to legend, King Afonso Henriques then decided that the Portuguese flag would have five shields, or quinas, in a cross, representing the five vanquished kings and the five wounds of Christ.

There are so many myths that have shaped this country that it would be impossible and unfair to contain them all in a single article, so I’ve decided to create a series that will cross the country from north to south. In this article, we’ll visit the legends that have the Azores and Madeira, Portugal’s two archipelagos, as their backdrop. Let’s get to it!

Legend of Nossa Senhora do Monte

It is said that at the end of the 15^th century, about a kilometer above the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, in the town of Terreiro da Luta, a little girl was playing in the afternoon with a shepherdess. The shepherdess offered the little girl a snack.

The little girl, very pleased, told her family what had happened, who didn’t believe her story, as it was unlikely that a little girl would appear in that deserted forest so far from the village. The next afternoon, the little girl went back to play with the shepherdess, who again gave her a snack, and the shepherdess told her family again.

The next day, at the time indicated by the shepherdess, her father went to observe the scene in secret. That’s when he saw a small image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on a rock and, in front of her, the innocent shepherdess, who hastened to tell him that the image was the little girl he was talking about.

The father, perplexed, didn’t dare touch the image and reported it to the authorities, who ordered the image to be placed in the Chapel of the Incarnation, near the present-day church of Our Lady of the Mount. From then on, that venerable image was given this name.

Legend of Machim

According to the legend, between the end of the 14^th century and the beginning of the 15^th century, there was a young man in England called Roberto Machim, a legendary knight at the court of King Edward III of England. He was in love with an English lady, Anne of Arfert (or Anne of Harfert), who reciprocated his love but, by the will of her relatives, had to marry a nobleman.

Machim and his friends devised a plan to rescue the bride before the wedding and take her by boat to France, which at the time was at war with the English in the Hundred Years’ War. The date of the escape was agreed with the young woman for the eve of her wedding day.

While fleeing far from the English coast, the lovers were surprised by a storm that blew them off course. Suffering setbacks due to the storm, and not having an experienced pilot on board to put them back on course, the couple in love drifted for days until they saw a “big green spot” in the distance. They were in front of the island that would later be called Madeira.

Despite their fear of the unknown, their desperation drove them closer and, as the lady was ill from spending so much time at sea, they landed in the cove that is now Machico Bay. They were so anxious to set foot on dry land that they disembarked without taking the necessary steps to anchor the boat.

After exploring that part of the island and quenching their thirst, they realized that a new storm was approaching. They sought refuge among the roots of a leafy tree that was there because the diameter of its trunk was such that at its base there was a cavity that could hold many people.

When the storm calmed down, they noticed that the raging sea had taken their boat. The tormented lady, whose health was already failing, died a few days later. Machim erected a huge wooden cross on the grave of his beloved, next to the leafy tree where they had found shelter. Machim was affected by an enormous melancholy and, in less than a week, he joined his beloved in death.

It is said that the remaining members of the expedition who stayed there tried to survive and engraved the brief history of the two lovers on the cross. Some of them died, while others survived until a Moorish ship came and rescued them and took them to North Africa to be sold as slaves. One of them had been rescued by the payment for the release of captives that Christians usually made to African traders. It was this survivor who told the saga of Machim to the Portuguese.

Legend also has it that when the Portuguese explorers arrived a few years later, they discovered the wooden cross and the inscription. They then built the island’s first chapel in the hollow of the tree and named the town Machico in honor of the inscription.

Legend of Saint Sylvester

Legend has it that on the last night of the year, as the Virgin Mary looked down from heaven over the ocean, Saint Sylvester came to speak to her. Our Lady told him the reason for her sadness: she remembered the beautiful Atlantis, sunk by God to punish its inhabitants.

As she spoke, Our Lady shed tears of sadness and mercy. Saint Sylvester then noticed that her tears were not tears but real pearls. One of these tears fell on the original site of the extraordinary Atlantis, giving rise to the island of Madeira, which became known as the Pearl of the Atlantic.

The ancients say that, for a long time, on the night of St. Sylvester, when the twelve chimes struck, a vision of light and fantastic colors would appear in the sky, leaving a dazzling scent in the air.

Over the years, this sight has disappeared, but people have found a way to keep it alive, through the fireworks of the famous New Year’s Eve celebrations, which enhance the celebrations of St. Sylvester’s Eve.

Legend of the Seven Cities

Legend has it that the Azores archipelago is what remains today of a wonderful and strange island. On this island lived a king who regretted not having any children. This pain made him bitter and cruel.

One night, a very bright star descended from the heavens and gradually materialized into a beautiful woman. She promised the king a daughter as beautiful as the sun, but she imposed a few conditions: first of all, the king had to stop being cruel and start being patient.

He would also have to build a palace, surrounded by seven cities, surrounded by bronze walls that no one could cross. The little princess would have to be kept there for thirty years, away from the king’s eyes and affection.

The king immediately accepted the challenge. However, after 28 years, he couldn’t take it anymore. Despite being warned that he would die and his kingdom would be destroyed, he went to the walls to destroy them. As soon as he started, the earth shook and the sea swallowed up the island.

At the end of it all, only the nine islands of the Azores and the princess’s palace remained, now transformed into the Lagoon of the Seven Cities. The lagoon split in two: one green, like the princess’s dress, and the other blue, the color of her shoes.

Legend of the Kingdom of Atlantis

In the great civilizations of antiquity, it was said that beyond the Pillars of Hercules, today the Strait of Gibraltar and where the Atlantic now stretches, the mighty empire of the Atlantas ruled.

This empire was made up of a federation of ten kingdoms, under the protection of Poseidon, so the Atlanteans were exemplary in their behavior, not allowing themselves to be corrupted by vice and luxury.

The whole of Atlantis was a dream and a delight. The land produced precious woods; there were mines of noble metals; the exceptional climate favored flourishing agriculture; the houses and palaces showed comfort and wealth; there were excellent roads and bridges; and the economic respite provided for the emergence of wise men and artists.

Everyone was happy just to enjoy and exploit the riches of their kingdom, but they were still practicing the art of war.

So it wasn’t difficult for the Atlanteans to defend their territory from the attacks of those who, driven by envy, longed to conquer the prodigious Atlantis. They defended the land in such a way that pride blossomed and the ambition to extend the kingdom’s domains arose for the first time.

The mighty Atlantean army spread throughout the then-known world and dominated the people. Inebriated by time, they allowed themselves to be taken by pride and vanity, falling into luxury and corruption, disrespecting the gods.

Zeus called a council to punish the Atlanteans, who were now so depraved. As a result, the earth shook violently, the sky darkened as if it were night, fire licked the forests, and the sea swept over the land and swallowed up villages and cities.

Atlantis and all its prosperity disappeared forever into the immensity of the sea, but nine of the highest mountains of that beautiful land remained uncovered. Many years later, these small islands, remnants of the great continent, were populated and are today the 9 islands of the Azores which, due to their beautiful climate and landscape, are reminiscent of the prosperous Atlantis.

Last Thoughts

Portuguese legends are not just stories from the past; they are threads woven into the tapestry of national identity, shaping world views and passing on values from generation to generation. Each tale, such as the epic Battle of Ourique, not only feeds the collective imagination but also influences national symbols, such as the chevrons on the flag.

Located right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with water in each direction, as far as the eye can see, it’s simply to understand why the people of Azores and Madeira have felt the need to create myths that give them a sense of belonging, a sense of being a part of something bigger than their respective islands.

Just as Tolkien believed, these legends are not just fiction; they are reflections of deep truths that resonate through the centuries. The richness of Portuguese culture lies not only in its documented history but in the narratives that dwell in the hearts of the people, continuing to inspire and enchant each generation that delves into these timeless stories.

Thus, Portuguese legends remain not only as accounts of the past but as windows to understanding the soul of a people and the essence of their rich heritage.

Make sure you explore the country through its legends in these other articles: Northern Portugal’s Folk Tales, Central Portugal’s Folk Tales, Lisbon Region’s Folk Tales, and Southern Portugal’s Folk Tales.

Northern Portugal’s Folk Tales, Central Portugal’s Folk Tales, Southern Portugal’s Folk Tales, and Lisbon’s Region Folk Tales.

We need to know how to interpret and distinguish legends from reality, as well as why these legends exist in the culture of each people and region. Portugal is a country extremely rich in stories, myths, and ancient legends, which inspire customs and superstitions. There are hundreds of Portuguese legends, tales, sayings, and popular beliefs that make our culture so rich and interesting.

Told in the evenings in the cold winters by our ancestors, from werewolves to fairies, witches to mermaids, ghosts and feathered souls to the miracles of saints, there isn’t a creature that our folklore doesn’t include, with the exception, perhaps, of vampires, because this isn’t a subject that is part of our legendary imagination.

But not all Portuguese legends are about creatures and monsters. Many of them reveal lands and people of courage, stories of revenge, justice, impossible loves, and perfect loves, others concern true events but with touches of imagination, probably to increase the dramatic or heroic charge of what really happened.

In fact, legends are such an important part of Portugal’s core that some even precede the country’s history, such as the legend of the Battle of Ourique. The legend goes that shortly before the battle, Afonso Henriques was visited by an old man, whom the man who would become Portugal’s first king four years later believed he had seen in his dreams.

The man gave him a prophetic revelation of victory. He also told him to leave the camp alone the following night, as soon as he heard the bell from the hermitage where the old man lived. The king did so.

It was then that a ray of light illuminated everything around him, allowing him to gradually make out the Sign of the Cross and Jesus Christ crucified. Overcome with emotion, he knelt down and heard the voice of the Lord, who promised him victory in this and other battles. The next day, Afonso Henriques won the battle.

According to legend, King Afonso Henriques then decided that the Portuguese flag would have five shields, or quinas, in a cross, representing the five vanquished kings and the five wounds of Christ.

There are so many myths that have shaped this country that it would be impossible and unfair to contain them all in a single article, so I’ve decided to create a series that will cross the country from north to south. In this article, we’ll visit the legends that have the south of Portugal as their backdrop. Let’s get to it!

Legend of the “Estremoços” or Estremoz

The story goes that many centuries ago, a man, a woman, and a child were traveling in a carriage across the Alentejo plains. Political hatred and wrongly convicted crimes had thrown this family onto the endless road, so they were looking for a new home in a faraway land. After such a long journey, the heat was biting and thirst was torturing them. The dust made their mouths chapped and their tongues rough.

They needed to rest, to escape the sun of that immense plain beyond the River Tagus. Suddenly a large, welcoming shade appeared in the distance, like an oasis in the desert, a lupine tree, the only shelter they could find on the way. The family pitched a tent and spent the night there.

The next morning, they were woken up by the owner of the land with his men, who complained about the family’s presence on his property without his permission. Hearing that the family was being persecuted, albeit unjustly, for crimes they hadn’t committed, the old landowner ordered them to leave immediately. Feeling insulted, but with a clear conscience, the strangers refused to leave the shelter of the lupine tree.

After a while, the father and mother found their daughter missing. She had gone to meet the old landowner. She told him that her parents were noble and honest people with the ability to turn that place into a beautiful village. Convinced by the girl’s intelligence, simplicity, and courage, the old landowner went to her parents and accepted her presence on his land and help.

Years later, the prosperous village was granted a charter by King Afonso III. There were so many suggestions for names for the land that the old owner decided to leave it up to the children to choose. In honor of the tree, he named it Estremoços (the name given to lupins at the time). Today it is known as the city of Estremoz and the lupin tree is depicted on the city’s coat of arms. Estremoz is also home to a really cool castle that you should definitely visit. So cool, in fact, that it even made our 19 Coolest Castles in the Alentejo list.

Legend of the Seamstress

This is one of the legends that has the most versions throughout Baixo Alentejo. One of them says that at the beginning of the 20^th century, there was a seamstress in Baixo Alentejo who worked a lot, including on Sundays. For not respecting the holy day according to Catholic tradition, God punished her and made her wander the world of the living after her death.

Another version is that this seamstress had made a promise to St. Francis in life and never fulfilled it until she died. So she had to redeem herself by spending a period wandering before ascending to heaven. We don’t know why, but what we do know is that the seamstress became a penalized soul and wandered among the living, invisible.

Other versions tell us that once upon a time, a certain seamstress made a wedding dress for her daughter, but she died before the wedding. Filled with sadness, she continued to sew for eternity. It is also said that a certain seamstress fell seriously ill.

In order to recover her health, she promised to donate her sewing machine if she got better. However, as soon as she recovered, she forgot what she had promised, so when she died, as punishment, she was forced to continue sewing.

In all the versions, it is said to this day that in the silence of the night, the seamstress was heard sewing, and many heard the machine working, the scissors cutting, the thimble falling. However, this haunting didn’t frighten the people of Alentejo, because the seamstress was familiar. To learn more about this region and its people, check out our Alentejo Region Guide, or our love letter to the region, The Edge of Cultivation.

Legend of the Moura Salúquia

The coat of arms of the town of Moura – which is now a city – essentially shows a tower and a female figure lying in front of the fortification. The story goes that this woman, a Moor by the name of Salúquia (and daughter of the town’s governor), lived in this land during the Christian Reconquest and fell in love with a man called Bráfama, from the village of Aroche (about 50 km away, for those who are curious).

One day the Christians killed him, took the clothes of this beloved man and his entourage, and headed for the town that is now Moura. Salúquia, seeing them in the distance, thought it was Bráfama and ordered the city gates to be opened. Faced with this inattention, the Christian fighters easily entered the town and managed to conquer it without any difficulty.

Then, realizing what she had caused, in the midst of her misfortune this Moor climbed the castle tower and committed suicide. The memory of the beautiful Moor, who committed suicide out of love, lingered on in the local culture, and so the town changed its Islamic name, which seems to have been Al-Manijah, to the current one.

But then… why was the town named “Moura” and not “Salúquia”? Since, given the context of this whole legend, it can be inferred that Christians changed the name, it is likely that the original name was gradually lost over time, or that they were unaware of the name of the deceased, but wanted to pay homage to her for the precious “help” she gave in conquering the place.

This second hypothesis is certainly possible if we are to believe the events surrounding this legend of the Moura Salúquia, which continues to live on today in the memory of the city’s inhabitants.

At the same time, the presentation of this main character as an Islamic woman who also loved a practitioner of the same religion is curious. In many other legends of Moors and Christians, it is much more common for them to fall in love with knights of the other religion, even ending up betraying their city for love.

Here, the town is betrayed, yes, but almost accidentally by Salúquia, and she is soon ready to pay the price for her action (some versions even add that all this took place on the day she thought she was going to get married, which further emphasizes her suffering).

Legend of the Almond Tree Blossoms

A long time ago, before Portugal existed and when the Algarve belonged to the Arabs, there was a king who had never known defeat. One day, among the prisoners of a battle, he saw the beautiful Gilda, a blonde princess with blue eyes and a haughty bearing. She was enchanting and everyone called her the “Beauty of the North”.

Impressed, the Moorish king gave him his freedom. He gradually won her heart and asked for her hand in marriage. Despite the festivities that took place on this occasion, Gilda seemed to be very sad. The princess suffered from nostalgia for not seeing the fields covered in snow, as in her homeland.

Afraid of losing his beloved wife, the king had a good idea: he ordered large plantations of almond trees to be planted throughout the Algarve, and by early spring they were all covered in blossoms. The Moorish king took Gilda to the balcony of the castle’s highest tower to discover the landscape together.

The queen clapped her hands and shouted for joy when she saw the whole land covered in a white blanket, which she thought was snow. Seeing this indescribable sight completely cured her homesickness.

The couple had an intense love affair, waiting year after year for spring, which brought the spectacle of almond trees in bloom.

The Algarve is a beautiful, and very well-known region, full of surprises. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, check out our Algarve Region Guide.

Legend of Praia da Rocha

The story goes that, many, many years ago, a beautiful mermaid was passing along the Algarve coast and, tired as she was, decided to rest on the rocks that rested there.

He fell asleep. As the sun rose, he smiled slightly. His eyes slowly open to the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks and he begins to glimpse a shadow in front of him.

In her distress, her eyes open wider and she notices that he is a very old man, with a long, white beard and wide, long white robes. He was, as he told the beautiful mermaid, the Fisherman, son of the Sea. So the Fisherman told the mermaid that he didn’t want her to leave, he wanted her to stay with him so that they could get married, because she was, without a doubt, the most beautiful being he had ever seen.

The fisherman continued to woo the beautiful mermaid. She, very attentive, was already inclined to accept the white-bearded man’s invitation. She didn’t do it straight away, but she didn’t do it afterward either. Another old man appeared from the top of the rocks, this one with a long brown beard and wide, long robes, as brown as his beard. He was a Serrano.

He too wanted to marry the mermaid and promised her the trees and flowers, the hills and valleys, the shadows, the smell of wet earth, in short… Worlds and worlds! For his part, the Fisherman stole Serrano’s airtime and promised the beautiful mermaid the waves, the corals, the beauty of the fish, the reflection of the sun in the ocean water… Then it was the Serrano’s turn. Then it was the fisherman’s turn again.

And so it went for months on end, without the mermaid deciding. And it lasted so long, but so long that the mermaid turned into the beautiful sand of Praia da Rocha and the two old men married each other.

Last Thoughts

Portuguese legends are not just stories from the past; they are threads woven into the tapestry of national identity, shaping world views and passing on values from generation to generation. Each tale, such as the epic Battle of Ourique, not only feeds the collective imagination but also influences national symbols, such as the chevrons on the flag.

The south of Portugal, as the last region to be reconquered from the Muslims, still retains many Arab influences, something that is easy to understand by learning about many of the legends that are passed down from generation to generation.

Just as Tolkien believed, these legends are not just fiction; they are reflections of deep truths that resonate through the centuries. The richness of Portuguese culture lies not only in its documented history but in the narratives that dwell in the hearts of the people, continuing to inspire and enchant each generation that delves into these timeless stories.

Thus, Portuguese legends remain not only as accounts of the past but as windows to understanding the soul of a people and the essence of their rich heritage.

Make sure you explore the country through its legends in these other articles: Northern Portugal’s Folk Tales, Central Portugal’s Folk Tales, Lisbon Region’s Folk Tales, and Portuguese Islands’ Folk Tales.

We need to know how to interpret and distinguish legends from reality, as well as why these legends exist in the culture of each people and region. Portugal is a country extremely rich in stories, myths, and ancient legends, which inspire customs and superstitions. There are hundreds of Portuguese legends, tales, sayings, and popular beliefs that make our culture so rich and interesting.

Told in the evenings in the cold winters by our ancestors, from werewolves to fairies, witches to mermaids, ghosts and feathered souls to the miracles of saints, there isn’t a creature that our folklore doesn’t include, with the exception, perhaps, of vampires, because this isn’t a subject that is part of our legendary imagination.

But not all Portuguese legends are about creatures and monsters. Many of them reveal lands and people of courage, stories of revenge, justice, impossible loves, and perfect loves, others concern true events but with touches of imagination, probably to increase the dramatic or heroic charge of what really happened.

In fact, legends are such an important part of Portugal’s core that some even precede the country’s history, such as the legend of the Battle of Ourique. The legend goes that shortly before the battle, Afonso Henriques was visited by an old man, whom the man who would become Portugal’s first king four years later believed he had seen in his dreams.

The man gave him a prophetic revelation of victory. He also told him to leave the camp alone the following night, as soon as he heard the bell from the hermitage where the old man lived. The king did so.

It was then that a ray of light illuminated everything around him, allowing him to gradually make out the Sign of the Cross and Jesus Christ crucified. Overcome with emotion, he knelt down and heard the voice of the Lord, who promised him victory in this and other battles. The next day, Afonso Henriques won the battle.

According to legend, King Afonso Henriques then decided that the Portuguese flag would have five shields, or quinas, in a cross, representing the five vanquished kings and the five wounds of Christ.

There are so many myths that have shaped this country that it would be impossible and unfair to contain them all in a single article, so I’ve decided to create a series that will cross the country from north to south. In this article, we’ll visit the legends that have the north of Portugal as their backdrop. Let’s get to it!

Legend of St. Vincent, Patron Saint of the City

In the 4^th century, Vincent of Zaragoza was tortured by order of Emperor Diocletian for refusing to worship pagan gods. The martyr was put on a grill over hot coals and his legs and arms were torn off, the body parts being abandoned in a field to be devoured by dogs and wolves. It was then that the crows appeared for the first time in the narrative, defending the body from this final carnage.

With the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, Vicente’s remains were placed on a boat that somewhere in time washed ashore on the cape of Sagres. In the 12^th century – eight centuries later – King Afonso Henriques promised to recover the martyr’s bones if he succeeded in conquering Lisbon, which he did. Two ravens then protected the ship on its journey to Lisbon. The saint became the patron saint of Lisbon and the ship and the ravens became symbols of the capital.

Legend of the Works of Santa Engracia

Legend has it that in the mid-1630s, a beautiful maiden by the name of Violante, daughter of an important Lisbon nobleman, fell in love with a young Christian by the name of Simão Pires Solis. The young woman’s father, who did not take kindly to the two lovers, had his daughter locked up in the convent of Santa Clara, located next to the church of Santa Engrácia, which was still under construction.

The young Simão Pires Solis didn’t deny his love for Violante and rode every day to the convent of Santa Clara to meet Violante on the sly. One day, Simão asked his beloved to run away with him. That night, by coincidence, the reliquary of the Portuguese martyr Saint Engracia, so dear to Infanta Maria, was stolen.

The next day, on the agreed date, Simão Pires Solis was woken up by the king’s men, who had come to arrest him, accusing him of stealing the relics from the church of Santa Engrácia, located very close to the convent. In order not to compromise Violante, Simão Solis didn’t want to reveal why he had been seen there the night before.

Despite repeatedly claiming his innocence, Simon Solis was arrested and sentenced to death at the stake for this reason, aggravated by his Jewish ancestry. The execution ceremony took place next to the new church of Santa Engrácia, work on which had already begun.

Legend has it that when the flames engulfed Simon Solis’ body, he cried out that he was as certain to die innocent as that the work would never end. Also, according to legend, years later, the novice Violante was called to the presence of a dying man when he was at death’s door, because she wanted to confess to him that he had been the thief of the reliquary of Saint Engracia.

Aware of Simon Solis and Violante’s secret relationship, he had framed the young man, who was seen there almost every night, and now wanted to ask for forgiveness from the woman who had lost her love in the most cruel and unjust way anyone could. However, Violante accepted his forgiveness.

What is certain is that the work on the church, which began when Simão Pires Solis was in charge, seemed never to end. So much so that people have become accustomed to comparing everything that seems to have no end to the works of Santa Engrácia, hence the popular saying.

Legend of Santa Iria

The story goes that in ancient Nabância (now Tomar), Iria was born, a beautiful young woman named Iria or Eirena, who belonged to a wealthy family in the region. From an early age, Iria discovered her religious vocation and entered a monastery. The young Iria received a thorough education and was professed in a monastery of Benedictine nuns, which was governed by her uncle, Abbot Sélio.

Because of her beauty and intelligence, Iria soon won the affection of the nuns as well as the locals, especially the young men and noblemen, who disputed Iria’s virtues among themselves. At the time, the region was ruled by Prince Castinaldo, whose son Britaldo was in the habit of composing troves near the church of St. Peter.

One day, Britaldo saw Iria and fell madly in love with her. He became sick with love and in a feverish, desperate state, he demanded the young woman’s presence. Iria asked him to forget her because her heart and her love were from God. Britaldo agreed, on the condition that she belonged to no other man.

Remigius, a monk who was Iria’s spiritual director, was aware of Britaldo’s love affairs, and the maiden’s beauty had not gone unnoticed. Burning with jealousy, the monk Remigius gave Iria a tisane that was supposed to make her drunk, and which caused her body to appear opulent after pregnancy.

For this reason, she was immediately expelled from the convent, retreating to the river to pray in despair. When Britaldo found out, he was furious and jealous. He followed her on one of his usual trips to the River Nabon, where Iria was murdered by a servant of Britaldo’s or by Britaldo himself, stabbed, and thrown into the water.

Iria’s body was carried by the waters of the River Nabão to the River Zêzere and from there to the Tagus. After many searches and when they had almost given up, Iria’s body was found near the town of Scalabis (Santarém), enclosed as if by miracle in a beautiful marble tomb.

They wanted to remove it, but the waters of the Tagus, which had suddenly subsided to show the tomb, rose again, covering the martyr’s grave forever. The people surrendered to the miracle and she was considered a saint. From then on, the town was called Santa Iria, later Santarém.

About six centuries later, legend has it that the waters of the Tagus opened up again to reveal the tomb of Queen Isabel, who worshipped Saint Iria.

Did you know that Tomar is actually home to one of Portugal’s World Heritage Sites? That’s right, the Convent of Christ is a marvel that you can’t miss. To find out what else there is to see, head to our Tomar City Guide.

Legend of the Boca do Inferno

This legend takes place in the Cascais area, where it is said that there was once a castle inhabited by a demonic sorcerer (along with the version that says he was a malevolent giant). This sorcerer and malevolent figure chose the most beautiful maiden in the area to marry, but when he saw her in person and saw her rejection, he decided to arrest her and hide her, mad with jealousy at her beauty.

Obsessed by the beauty of the young woman and angry at being unrequited, the man locked her in an inaccessible tower near the sea and hired a faithful knight to guard her. The maiden was confined to a lonely tower, with the knight on guard, without ever being able to see each other.

The years went by and the two chatted, keeping each other company, until one day the knight, out of curiosity, decided to go up to the tower to see his friend. Legend has it that when the knight opened the door, he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the maiden and quickly fell in love with her.

The lovers decided to flee on horseback, forgetting that the sorcerer had bewitched the maiden and knew everything. So they fled on the sorcerer’s white horse and galloped along the cliffs of the coast on a beautiful moonlit night. The sorcerer, enraged and thirsty for revenge, summoned a fierce storm that hit the rocks where the lovers were fleeing.

Legend has it that the cliffs opened like a mouth and the waters swallowed up the maiden and the knight, crashing them into the raging sea. The hole has never closed since and on stormy days it seems that the place itself regrets the tragedy that took place there.

The local population began to call it “Boca do Inferno” (Hell’s Mouth), because of the unfortunate fate the pair met. On windy and stormy days, people seem to want to tell everyone the unfortunate story of those two lovers.

But Boca do Inferno is but one of the many, many highlights of Cascais. Want to find out what else there is in the “Portuguese Riviera”? Then make sure you check out our Cascais City Guide.

Legend of the Alfacinhas

As well as being one of Portugal’s best cities to live in, Lisbon is also surrounded by small and large Portuguese folk legends. One of them is the Legend of the Alfacinhas, which tries to explain why the city’s inhabitants are called colloquially called alfacinhas.

One of the theories goes back to the occupation of Lisbon by the Moors between 711 and 714, who began to cultivate “Al-Hassa”, which eventually became “Alface” (lettuce) in Portuguese. The plant was used for various purposes, both medicinal and culinary.

According to legend, after a war, the locals only had lettuce to eat, which is why they became known as this.

Lisbon is a city with so much to offer (other than lettuce!), so make sure you read our Lisbon Travel Guide before you get there, so that you don’t miss a thing.

Legend of Ulysses and the Founding of Lisbon

In this legend, Ulysses, during the ten years he was lost trying to return to Ithaca, is said to have landed at the mouth of the Tagus, in a territory called Ophiusa, which meant “Land of the Snakes” and was ruled by a fearsome and seductive half-woman, half-snake queen, who fell in love with the hero, promising him the creation of the most beautiful city in the world, which he would name: Ulisseia.

In some versions, the queen’s strange anatomy is no obstacle to Ulysses falling in love with her and climbing to the highest mountain, shouting to the winds that he would find the most powerful city in the world: Olissipo.

In others, the hero deceives the queen, pretending to be in love with her, while the sailors recover and refuel the ships. When they are ready, Ulysses and his men set off under cover of night, and the queen, discovering that she has been abandoned, runs snaking after the hero, opening up valleys with her body and thus creating the hills of Lisbon.

Last Thoughts

Portuguese legends are not just stories from the past; they are threads woven into the tapestry of national identity, shaping world views and passing on values from generation to generation. Each tale, such as the epic Battle of Ourique, not only feeds the collective imagination but also influences national symbols, such as the chevrons on the flag.

Today’s modern, cosmopolitan Lisbon wasn’t always like this. In fact, there was a time when Lisbon was still a place where the country’s different cultures came together, yet without mixing, thus maintaining their traditions and myths. This is one of the many explanations as to why this region is so rich in legends.

Just as Tolkien believed, these legends are not just fiction; they are reflections of deep truths that resonate through the centuries. The richness of Portuguese culture lies not only in its documented history but in the narratives that dwell in the hearts of the people, continuing to inspire and enchant each generation that delves into these timeless stories.

Thus, Portuguese legends remain not only as accounts of the past but as windows to understanding the soul of a people and the essence of their rich heritage.

Make sure you explore the country through its legends in these other articles: Northern Portugal’s Folk Tales, Central Portugal’s Folk Tales, Southern Portugal’s Folk Tales, and Portuguese Islands’ Folk Tales.