Mãe Nazarena Statue

Patron saint of fishermen in Nazaré.

This sculpture combines in a very expressive way the hardships the women and mothers of Nazaré had to face and endure for several hundred of years. Up to the 1970's some of their husbands went fishing for Bacalhão on the Newfoundland banks and would be gone for 6 months or longer. Those husbands who went fishing locally were no help with their children, repairs in the house etc. either, as they were out at sea working. Once the boats got in they had to be dragged up the beach with the help of the whole population and later oxen as well (the port was only built in 1983). The women were the ones who were left with every task necessary and also had to sell the fish, sometimes even walking on foot to Caldas da Rainha and back. And then, of course, there were huge losses. While they are very experienced seamen, the surf here knows no mercy and the ocean neither. There was a lot of suffering going on then, and if I'm allowed to say so, still is.

This sculpture honors women whose husbands and sons went to sea to support their families and, in some cases, never returned. It was designed by Celestino Alves Andre and unveiled on September 8, 2005. September 8th is the municipal holiday of Nazare