Introduction
The Path of Legends runs through the narrow streets of Olhao. Follow it to understand more about the history and heritage of this wonderful town.
The Legend of Marim
(Largo de Fabrica Velha)
In Marim, there was a beautiful Palace. Alina lived there and Abdala, a Troubadour, loved her. Every night he would come and sing beautiful Love Songs.
However, Alina’s father didn’t like this.
He spoke to Abdala, and told him that if he could bring the source of a nearby river to the palace in a single night, he could have the hand of his daughter in marriage. The source was 100 miles away. The task was impossible.
The next night, Abdala didn’t come, but then at dawn, Alina heard a lute. It was Abdala! He’s brought the source of the river to the house.
Alina’s father was enraged, and threw her from the window… where Abdala caught her, and together they left downriver.
The Legend of Floripes
(Praca Patrao Joaquim Lopes)
There was a house, next to a mill near the Levante Quarter. where an old man named Ze lived. He liked a drink, and when drinking with his friends, often mentioned a beautiful Moorish lady, whom he said would come to his at night and remain with him until dawn, providing pleasures that only a lady can give.
His friends didn’t believe him, so Ze bet the youngest member of the group, Juliao (who was about to marry Aninhas) that if he came to check his story out, he would give Juliao a farm if the story was true, and nothing if it wasn’t.
He agreed and came to Ze’s house at midnight. He’d almost given up when a beautiful Moorish Lady appeared. She told him that she was under a spell that could only be broken if someone would take her to the sea and stab her in the arm close to her heart.
Juliao turned her down though, because he loved Aninhas and was about to be married.
When he arrived home, Ze was with Aninhas, who was in tears. Juliao turned to Ze to speak with him, but he’d disappeared.
It is said that Floripes, the Moorish Lady, took him to North Africa, because he was the only one who truly loved her.
The Legend of the Enchanted Moorish Boy
(Largo do Gaibeu)
Manuel Caleca, a young fisherman, was playing in the streets with his friends when a young boy appeared and asked if he could join in.
They all agreed, and he began to play with them. But he wasn’t very good.
Manuel’s friends suggested that he take the boy somewhere else to play, and Manuel was happy to do so.
They wandered off, and the boy took him to a trapdoor, which he opened. Inside was a fantastic palace, full of treasures.
Manuel was almost driven mad by the treasures he saw, so the boy closed the trapdoor and told Manuel that he would take him back to his parents immediately and stay with him forever – but that nobody else would be able to see him, because somebody had placed a spell on him.
And this is what happened – until Manuel’s Mother took him to Communion and to confess.
From that day on, Manuel never saw his friends again.
The Legend of the Big-Eyed Boy
(Largo do Carolas)
It is said that on dark nights in the Barreta quarter, a crying boy with big black eyes would appear to the fishermen, but say nothing.
Taking pity on him, they would carry him, but the further they walked, the heavier he got, and eventually they would have to leave him on the ground, still crying…
He no longer appears though, and it’s said that when Moura Felipes left for North Africa, she took him with her
The Legend of Arraul
(Largo Joao da Carma)
Arraul was the son of Atlantis’ only survivor, the Chief Guard of Hercules’ Columns.
One day, a storm swept him into the sea, where he was swallowed by a whale.
Amazingly he survived, and the whale brought him ashore at Prainhas – where Olhao stands today.
Arraul loved the place so much that he decided that he must protect it, and so he built the barrier islands, with soil from the Sao Miguel and Cabeca Mountains.
