Once a simple village known as Arrifana de Sousa, Penafiel’s story echoes through time. Penafiel became a municipality in 1519 thanks to a foral (charter) granted by King Manuel I of Portugal. This raised Arrifana de Sousa to village status. It wouldn’t officially become Penafiel until 1770 under King Joseph. He also conferred city status upon this evolving hub. The name Penafiel itself is linked to the numerous forts scattered across the area. The very stones whisper tales of Roman, Visigoth, and Moorish influences. Penafiel has a rich prehistory too. Evidence of megalithic monuments, stone settlements, and castros dot the landscape. The Menhir of Luzim, a towering 2.5-meter stone, stands as a testament to an era 3,000-4,000 years before our time. Luzim also boasts 3,000-year-old rock engravings. Citânia de Monte Mozinho, an archaeological “city of the dead,” reveals traces of Galician-Lusitanian, Roman, Visigoth, and Moorish cultures. The Romans left their mark on Penafiel as well. They reorganized and moved the existing hill forts, creating new settlements like Bouça do Ouro. The Roman spa town of São Vicente do Pinheiro flourished around the region’s natural resources. Gold veins within the Schist and Quartzite quarries drew Roman settlers, fostering a thriving artisanal economy. Penafiel’s transformation continued into the 9th century. The Civitas Anegia became a vital center. This area, a precursor to Penafiel de Canas, focused on agriculture and fishing. Penafiel’s religious heritage also blossomed. The Romanesque temple of Boelhe and the Church of São Salvador da Gândara drew pilgrims from afar. The Church of Abragão, the late-Gothic Church of São Miguel da Eja, and the Ermida memorial in Irivo further enriched the region’s spiritual landscape. Penafiel’s story is one of growth and transformation. From a small village to a bustling city, Penafiel’s rich history is etched in its very foundations.
Penafiel
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