Romantic stories of Portugal

In celebration of Valentine's Day, lovers day, we invite you to discover some of the most romantic stories from Portugal. These tales, along with many others, are shared during our tours.

Let's begin with the true story of two of our favourite writers:

Forbidden Love: Camilo Castelo Branco and Ana Placido.

Camilo Castelo Branco and Ana Plácido were the central figures in a passionate story that scandalised Porto in the 19th century.

Their love defied the societal norms of 19th-century Portugal. Ana, who was married to a merchant, found herself falling in love with another man. She engaged in an extramarital affair and ultimately left her husband for Camilo, her true love. Together, they moved to Lisbon.

Upon the discovery of their scandalous affair, Ana was confined to a convent in Braga. Despite this, she managed to escape and reunite with her beloved Camilo.

Ana's daring admission of her love led to her being put on trial and convicted of the crime of adultery. She was subsequently imprisoned in Porto Prison, which is now the Portuguese Center of Photography (where we start our Porto Free Tour). Camilo, too, faced conviction and was arrested. It was during this tumultuous period that Camilo wrote his classic novel "Amor de Perdição," drawing inspiration from his passionate relationship with Ana.

The couple endured more than a year in prison until the judge ultimately dismissed the charges due to lack of evidence, leading to their release. Following their release, they continued their relationship as a couple.

The city of Porto continued to serve as the backdrop for this enduring love story, making it worth exploring the streets and areas that once witnessed this remarkable romance with our Main Porto Tour.

Ana Plácido was a spirited woman who cherished literature, even going so far as to publish articles and novels in newspapers under a male pseudonym, a practice nearly obligatory at the time. Her love for Camilo, a brilliantly talented writer with a volatile temperament and strong character, led her to set aside her own aspirations of becoming a writer and instead devote herself to being a supportive partner and mother. She assisted Camilo by researching manuscripts that would form the foundation of many of his novels. Camilo's literary output would have been markedly different had she not entered his life.

They remained devoted to each other until Camilo Castelo Branco's tragic suicide in 1890.

Their love was truly excessive, enduring until the very end.

Lovers island in Castelo de Paiva, Portugal.

Lovers' Island

In the town of Castelo de Paiva, between the confluence of the Paiva and Douro rivers, lies a small island. While some refer to it as Castelo Island, among locals, this quaint piece of land is renowned as Lovers' Island. It is the origin of this name that captivates our attention.

Legend has it that on this island, a farmer and a local noblewoman shared a clandestine love, concealed due to the prevailing traditions and morals that forbade relationships between individuals of differing social status. Their idyllic existence was disrupted when a nobleman proposed marriage to the noblewoman. Fearing the loss of his beloved, the farmer, driven to desperation and madness, committed a heinous act: he murdered the noblewoman's suitor and disposed of his body in the Douro River. Subsequently, he sought refuge on the island, consumed by fear of the repercussions. However, unable to suppress his yearning, the farmer eventually returned to the mainland to rescue the noblewoman, imploring her to join him in a secluded existence on the island. Tragically, as they set sail back to the island, a fierce storm erupted, causing the small boat carrying the lovers to capsize, ultimately claiming both of their lives. Thus, the legend was born, and the island became forever known as Lover's Island.

Even today, this diminutive island continues to draw curious visitors and romantic couples, and has even served as the backdrop for several weddings.

The Legend of Dom Pedro and Inês de Castro.

Let us journey back to the 14th century to uncover the tale of these star-crossed lovers.

Pedro, the heir to the Portuguese throne, was compelled by his father, King Afonso IV, to marry Constanza of Castile. However, it is recounted that the allure of Inês de Castro, a lady of the court and maid to Constanza, captivated Pedro so intensely that, despite being married, he became passionately enamored with her.

Following the death of Constanza during childbirth, freeing Pedro to pursue his romance with Inês, the heir to the throne felt liberated. Although King Afonso IV never sanctioned this union, legend holds that the two clandestinely wed, with Inês being recognized as Pedro's lawful wife. They resided together in Coimbra and bore several children.

The prospect of the illegitimate descendants of the couple supplanting the legitimate heir, the son of Pedro and Constanza, began to perturb the king. Consequently, King Afonso IV ordered the assassination of Inês while she was alone in Quinta de las Lágrimas in Coimbra. She was mercilessly stabbed by three of the king's advisors as her children looked on, pleading for mercy.

The loss of his beloved Inês left Pedro grief-stricken, igniting within him an unyielding thirst for vengeance. This drove him to wage war against his father for three harrowing years.

Following his father's demise and assuming the throne, Pedro orchestrated the capture of the murderers, subjected them to torture, personally tore out their hearts, and then consumed them with his own hands as an act of retribution.

That is why Pedro became known in history as Pedro "The Cruel." Inês was posthumously crowned queen, and Pedro compelled the entire court to pay homage to Inês, who had been deceased for three years. Pedro dressed her in regal attire and seated her on the throne during his coronation.

The bodies of the two lovers rest in the Alcobaça Monastery, facing one another. This arrangement was according to Pedro's wishes, as he desired that when the day of final judgment arrived and his body rose, the first thing he would behold would be the gaze of his beloved Inês.

Truly, a beautiful yet tragic romance.

We recount this poignant tale in the Vila Nova de Gaia Tour, where you will discover why this narrative is intertwined with this captivating city. 

Painting of Pedro and Inês.

The Legend of Friar João da Cruz.

This forbidden love story revolves around Mr. Mendo and Mrs. Sol.

Mr. Mendo hailed from a respectable family, but due to political turmoil and challenges, he was compelled to flee his homeland of Portugal, and his possessions were confiscated. He sought refuge in Spain, where he encountered a noblewoman, Mrs. Sol, who was affluent and also of distinguished lineage. Despite their disparate circumstances, the two found themselves deeply in love. However, Mrs. Sol's father, harboring suspicions that Mr. Mendo, now destitute, sought nothing more than his daughter's fortune, adamantly refused to grant his consent for their marriage.

In a bid to win her father's approval, Mr. Mendo devised a plan: he resolved to enlist in the military, join the war, and earn renown, hoping that his potential father-in-law would then acquiesce to his union with Mrs. Sol. Assured of her steadfast commitment, Mrs. Sol pledged to await his return as he set off to battle in Africa.

Unbeknownst to Mr. Mendo, Mrs. Sol's father arranged her marriage to a young nobleman, Mr. Rodrigo. On her wedding day, Mrs. Sol wept, never finding happiness again, a fact not lost on Mr. Rodrigo. Four years elapsed, until one day, a servant arrived at the castle, having returned from the War in Africa years earlier. The servant informed Mrs. Sol that he had served alongside a Portuguese nobleman named Mr. Mendo, who had been captured by the resistance forces and faced a death sentence. This nobleman spoke wistfully of the beloved noblewoman he had left behind in Spain. Upon learning this, Mrs. Sol implored the servant if there was any means to rescue him, to which he responded in the affirmative, albeit at a steep cost. 

Then she gave him a pile of jewels that covered the cost of freeing Mr. Mendo from captivity so that he could be set free. The servant went to the castle where Mrs. Sol's husband, Mr. Rodrigo, was. It had all been a trick done by Mr. Rodrigo to find out how much she was in love and how much she was willing to do to save Mr. Mendo. Driven by his anger, Mr. Rodrigo imprisoned his wife for weeks and was going to have her killed.

As a last wish, she asked him to see a priest so she could confess, and that's when Friar João da Cruz arrived. She kneeled with her eyes on the ground, proclaiming her innocence. She spoke of her lost love and her weakness for having consented to a loveless marriage, expressing her remorse at knowing that the only man she had ever loved was away and suffering torture. She told the Friar that her only purpose was to save him. She had never thought of a less pure gesture.

That's when the Friar started to cry. She raised her eyes and realized that he was a familiar face. Friar João da Cruz was indeed Mr. Mendo. He explained to her that upon his return, he had heard of Mrs. Sol's marriage to Mr. Rodrigo, and it had broken his heart. That's when he became a monk.

Friar João da Cruz (aka Mr. Mendo), to save his beloved Mrs. Sol, went to talk to Mr. Rodrigo. He told him that his wife was innocent and that he had to let her live. Unaware that he was speaking to Mr. Mendo, Mr. Rodrigo expressed his unwillingness to wait for the man his wife was in love with to come back and betray him, ultimately deciding to kill him to prevent such a betrayal. The Friar then revealed his true identity, saying, "That will never happen, I swear." When Mr. Rodrigo asked him why he was so sure, the Friar responded, "Because before I was Friar João da Cruz, I was Mr. Mendo, and I assure you that I will never do such a thing."

Driven by anger and consumed by rage, Mr. Rodrigo took up his sword and killed João da Cruz, then went to see his wife and killed her too. It was an unfortunate ending for two people who never had the chance to truly show their love for each other.

This is how some of the most romantic and forbidden love stories and legends of Portugal come to an end. If you are interested in learning more about Portuguese history and legends, we recommend our tour of the Old Town and Ribeira, where we also walk through the oldest and most romantic neighborhoods of the city of Porto.

Also, if you want to know the History of Valentine's Day or suggestions for romantic plans in Porto, read the blog entry 7 Suggestions for romantic plans in Porto by clicking here.

We also have a blog post on 7 romantic restaurants in Porto, in case you want to celebrate a special occasion. 

We wish you lots of love ❤️