Pilgrim routes and old bridges in Maia

1 brewery · 1 venue

People have lived in the Maia area since prehistoric times. One of its most notable finds is the Pedra Partida de Ardegães, a granite block of about 5,000 years ago covered in geometric carvings, discovered in the 1930s in Águas Santas and on permanent display since 2001 in the Museu de História e Etnologia da Terra da Maia. The Roman road between Bracara (Braga) and Cale (Porto) crossed the area, leaving milestones and stretches of paving. In the Middle Ages the Mendes da Maia family played a leading part in the founding of Portugal; its best-known member, the warrior Gonçalo Mendes da Maia, "O Lidador", is today the city's hero. In the mid-13th century the Terras da Maia stretched from Porto to the River Ave and from the sea to the mountains, until they were incorporated into Porto in 1304. During the Age of Discovery the region produced sails and fabrics for Portuguese caravels, and Manuel I granted a charter in the early 16th century. Napoleonic troops under Marshal Soult crossed the area in 1809 on the way from Braga to Porto, and it saw battles between absolutists and liberals in 1832–1834. The modern municipality was created in 1836, abolished in 1857 and restored in 1868. Heritage to look out for includes the Arp Schnitger organ in Moreira and old bridges such as the Ponte da Pedra, and three Portuguese routes of the Way of St James pass through the municipality.

Craft beer in Maia is a rare find, so treat any local pour as a bonus while walking the Way of St James.