Perafita in Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)
A Praia da Memória
⎯⎯⎯
Memory Beach
| — | Matosinhos Mar | — |
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 2, 2023
1. A Praia da Memória / Memory Beach Marker
A Praia da Memória é um dos raros locais entre Leixões e Vila do Conde com excelentes condições para fundear navios e, logo, para desembarques. É provável que esta praia isolada fosse utilizada por piratas que aqui desembarcariam para atacar e pilhar as quintas e pequenas povoações da região, capturando igualmente homens e mulheres para os converter em escravos facto relativamente bem documentado nas costas portuguesas durante os séculos XVI a XVIII, talvez por isso fosse outrora conhecida por Praia dos Ladrões. A origem da denominação "Praia dos Ladrões" poderá, no entanto, resultar de uma atividade também registada na nossa costa: a montagem de falsos faróis (fogueiras de sinalização) no alto de elevações mais interiores que, atraindo as embarcações para os traiçoeiros rochedos da costa, aí os fazia naufragar. Neste caso os ladrões estavam em terra e saqueavam os náufragos e as suas mercadorias.
"Praia da Memória" (Memory Beach) is one of the few sites between Leixões and Vila do Conde with excellent conditions to anchor ships and disembark crews and, being a secluded beach, it was likely used by pirates coming to attack and plunder nearby farms and hamlets. Local men and women were also captured and enslaved, and this is a relatively well documented fact in research about the Portuguese shores between 1500 and 1700. Originally known as the "Thieves' Beach" because it was used to other activity documented in the area: the erection of false lighthouses (signaling bonfires) at the top of nearby mounds in order to attract ships to the treacherous rocks at the coast, thereby wrecking them.
Topics.
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Location. 41° 13.833′ N, 8° 43.246′ W. Marker is in Perafita, Porto, in Matosinhos. It can be reached from Rua de Almeiriga Norte, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Perafita, Porto 4455-419, Portugal. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in the European Union, in Atlantic Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Schengen Area, and in the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, Portuguese colonies, and the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Necrópole de Montedouro / Montedouro Necropolis (within shouting distance of this marker); Rua das Salinas / Saltern Street (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); O Submarino Alemão U1277 / The German Submarine U1277 (approx. 2 kilometers away); O Aterro / The Embankment (approx. 2.3 kilometers away); Naufrágio de Veronese / Shipwreck of Veronese
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 2, 2023
2. A Praia da Memória / Memory Beach Marker - wide view
More about this marker. The marker is just off the boardwalk between the road and the beach, just a few steps south of the restaurant.
Also see . . . Praia da Memória (visit Portugal).
Excerpt: Previously known as Arenosa or Ladrões Beach, this area of sand became known as Memória Beach following the erection of a commemorative obelisk on the spot where liberal troops led by Pedro 4th (1st Emperor of Brazil) disembarked in 1832 in order to expel his absolutist brother, Miguel from the Portuguese throne.(Submitted on October 4, 2023.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 195 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 4, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
