Eça de Queiroz Garden

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Porto > Póvoa de Varzim > Póvoa de Varzim > Bairro Piscatório

Location

Eça de Queiroz Garden is located in the heart of the city of Póvoa de Varzim. Situated in the area the municipality designates as the Fishing Quarter (Bairro Piscatório), this garden serves as a meeting point where several streets connect to Praça do Almada, a landmark in the city. Its central location makes it easily accessible, integrating seamlessly into the urban fabric of the locality.

Literary Memory

This garden pays homage to the illustrious Portuguese writer Eça de Queiroz. Its current designation refers to the fact that the author was born in a house adjacent to this space in 1845. In 1906, to mark his connection to Póvoa de Varzim, a bronze plaque by Master Teixeira Lopes was placed there, perpetuating the memory of the birthplace of one of the most prominent figures in Portuguese literature. The house visible there today replaced the original one at the beginning of the 20th century.

Origins and Symbolism

Previously known as Terreiro de São Sebastião and later Praça de São Sebastião, this space has a history dating back to the 16th century, linked to the existence of an old chapel dedicated to Saint Sebastian. At the center of the garden stands the parish cruzeiro (stone cross), an element that highlights the tradition and identity of the place. Complementing it is a 19th-century fountain, adorned with an azulejo panel placed in 1955. This panel displays the coat of arms of Póvoa de Varzim and a female figure with an anchor, a symbol of the city, along with the inscription "De Várzea tenho a origem" (From Várzea I have my origin), a reference to the old belief about the etymology of "Varzim".

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt