BARCELOS

Barcelos is a small town famous for its weekly market, which has been held on Thursdays since the 13th century. The outdoor market is Portugal’s largest – and among Europe’s largest as well. You’ll find everything here, from clothes, household items, fruits, vegetables, bread and pastries to ducks, chickens, and of course souvenirs. The most popular items for tourists are pottery and the Barcelos cockerel -- the most widely-recognized symbol of Portugal. A 13th-century legend describes how the rooster became so popular, and a symbol of good luck. Supposedly a pilgrim on his way to Santiago de Compostela, Spain stopped in Barcelos, and was wrongly accused of stealing. Before the Pilgrim was hung he told the judge that to prove his innocence, the roasted hen he was about to eat would get up and cluck. It did, and he was freed. Of course, I bought some wooden roosters for Christmas presents. For more info on Barcelos.