Sunday, May 20: Castles and Cathedrals along the Minho River
We explored the routes that lead down to the mouths of the rivers Minho, Lima, and Cávado. Guimarães holds a very special place in Portuguese affections. It was in this medieval castle that Afonso Henriques was born and now has its UNESCO World Heritage Status, a decision that soon becomes clear in its historic centre. We Visit the Cathedral and the Bom Jesus Sanctuary near Braga. Barcelos offers the happy and warm welcome characteristic of the Minho region. The ‘Terreiro do Paço’ square is home to an interesting open-air Archaeological Museum, while the ‘Senhor do Galo’ Cross (Lord of the Rooster) also deserves special attention, with its depiction of the legend of the Cockerel that Barcelos adopted as its symbol.
The legend of the Cock….
The medieval stone cross part of the patrimony of the Archaeological Museum of the city, is associated to the curious legend of the cock. According to the legend, the inhabitants of the borough were very concerned by a unsolved crime. One day, however, there appeared a man from Galicia who, immediately, become the suspect of the crime. The authorities arrested him and despite this protestations of innocence he was accused of being the author of the crime. Nobody believed he was on his way to Santiago do Compostela (Spain) to fulfill a vow and that he was fervent devotee of the Saint venerated in Compostela together with St. Paul and Our Lady. And so, as it was common in the Middle Ages, he was condemned to death by hanging.. But before his execution he asked to be taken to the presence of the judge who pronounced the sentence. His request was granted and so he was taken to the house of the magistrate who, in the moment, was having a banquet with some friends. Once again, the Galician protested his innocence and to the amazement of all presents, pointed to the roasted cockerel on the table and exclaimed: “As sure as I am innocent that cock will crow if I am hanged!” Immediately laughs and comments were heard, nevertheless nobody touch the cockerel. And what seemed impossible actually happened. When the pilgrim was being hanged, the cockerel stood up on the table and crowed. No one, any longer, doubted the innocence of the condemned man. The judge rushed to the gallows and saw, with astonishment, the poor man with the rope around his neck, but the loose knot protected him from being strangled. He was immediately released and continued his journey to pilgrimage. Years later, he returned to Barcelos and built the monument (the stone cross of the cockerel) Saint James and to the Virgin.
Hotel Teatro, Porto
