Nazaré, Portugal

The Nazarene coastline is among the most dangerous in the world with its high waves and local fishermen have braved them for centuries. The town’s reliance on the sea for food production and economic viability is a result of the unique climate that differs from the surrounding Mediterranean eco-zone where land-farming is more common.[7] Fishing in Nazaré is an activity carried out entirely by the village men, leaving the women to run daily life and daily governance in the town. These distinctly gendered roles and adherence to rudimentary fishing practices are widely believed to be the primary reason the town has not yet developed into a modern industrial society.[8]

Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo in the wintertime

Nazaré has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The town's climate is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean and the seasonal upwelling phenomena typical of western Portugal gives it cool to warm, dry and overall sunny summers. As a result of the marine layer, morning and evening fogs are very frequent in the summer and can persist all day on rare occasions. The seasonal downwelling on the other hand is most common in the winter and gives Nazaré a more unstable, Atlantic dominated weather with often overcast, rainy and stormy days, clear days, however, are not uncommon in this season. Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) or below 3 °C (37 °F) are very uncommon.[9] Nazaré also experiences some seasonal lag, with temperatures in September being warmer than those in June.

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 3 civil parishes (freguesias):[12]

• Famalicão
• Nazaré
• Valado dos Frades

Panoramic view of the village

Over the 20th century, Nazaré progressively evolved from a fishing village to a point of interest among Portuguese and International tourists,[13] advertising itself internationally as a picturesque seaside village.

Located on the Atlantic coast, it has long sandy beaches (considered by some to be among the best in Portugal), attracting many tourists in the summer. The town used to be known for the traditional costumes worn by the fishermen. Women traditionally wear a headscarf and flannel skirt, embroidered in seven different colours. The costumes are still worn occasionally.

A woman from Nazaré wearing the traditional seven-coloured flannel skirts.

It is quite visited due to the religious festivals[14] dedicated to Our Lady of Nazaré, in which there are processions and also some profane celebrations.

Many of the tourists and Catholic pilgrims who visit Central Portugal, and especially the internationally famous Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima (located nearby in Cova da Iria), go to Nazaré for a visit or to watch the surfing championships.

• Doctor Joaquim Manso Folk and Archeological Museum
• Sacred Art Museum of Reitor Luís Nesi
• Fisherman House-Museum
• Nazaré Bullring
• Nazaré Cultural Centre[15]

Tow-in surfing near the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo lighthouse

Giant breaking waves in Praia do Norte

The Praia do Norte (North Beach) was listed on the Guinness World Records for the biggest waves ever surfed (formed under the influence of the Nazaré Canyon)

Nazaré is a popular surfing destination because of the high breaking waves that form due to the presence of the underwater Nazaré Canyon.[16] The canyon increases and converges the incoming ocean swell which, in conjunction with the local water current, dramatically enlarges wave heights.[17]

Due to the height of the waves, numerous surfing records have been set at Nazaré. In November 2011, surfer Garrett McNamara surfed a then record-breaking giant wave measuring 23.8 m (78 ft) from trough to crest, at Praia do Norte, Nazaré.[18] On 8 November 2017 Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa broke the previous record by surfing a wave of 24.4 m (80 ft).[19][20] In October 2020, German surfer Sebastian Steudtner broke this record, riding a wave which was measured at 26.2 m (86 ft).[21]

There has been a marked increase in visitors to viewing points for surfing competitions, such as the lighthouse at the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo, which has seen numbers increase from 80,000 visitors in 2015 to 174,000 in 2017.[22]

On 18 January 2018 Brazilian big-wave surfer Maya Gabeira surfed a wave of 24.7 meters (74 feet).[23][24]

On 5 January 2023 Brazilian professional surfer Márcio Freire died whilst practicing tow-in surfing.[25]