A Lenda da Praia da Rocha - Portimão, Portugal
Posted by: 
manchanegra
N 37° 06.959 W 008° 31.763
29S E 541810 N 4107842
legend about the formation of one of the most famous Portuguese beaches (Praia da Rocha/"Rock beach")
Waymark Code: WMCEV7
Location: Faro, Portugal
Date Posted: 08/30/2011
Views: 18
A mermaid came one day to the Algarve, is not clear from where.
She settled by the sea, resting from a long and stressful journey.
A fisherman who was there fishing saw it, and amazed, approached and said:
- I do not know where you came from, but I must inform you that all this you see is mine. It was the Sea that has created this site and I am the son of the Sea!
The Mermaid smiled in such a way that the fisherman immediatly fell in love for her and answered him:
- I come from far away, fisherman, very far away. I´ve seen many places and this is so quiet that i want to stay.
- What's your name? Who are you? - Wanted to know the son of the Sea
- I have no name, Fisherman. I'm just who I am, a Mermaid.
- Welcome thou then, Mermaid, this place is already yours!
Then, by far, a rough and rude voice rough was heard:
- Do not give what is not yours, Fisherman! This land is mine. It was the "Serra" (mountains) that created it! I am the son of the "Serra" and everything you see belongs to me!
- Therefore, Serrano (The man from the Serra) - whispered the mermaid - perhaps be thou the end of my journey.
- Let him speak, Mermaid! What can he and his Serra (Mountain)against the power of my father, against the waves! ...
- Ah, ah, ah! - Laughed serrano - then you try to climb the Serra! What can thy waves against the robustness inherited from my mother. I'm the most powerful. I can create mountains in the Sea!
The fight seemed imminent between the two giants. The sea tryed to calm the waves, that grew and swelled and in the Serra, the heather and pines were waving and the sky was getting darker. The Mermaid was delighted with the violence of love that she was seeing, but told them:
- Do not get angry! I'll wait here that you bring evidences of your ability. But go now, I'm tired and I want to rest!
Slowly moved away from the sand and from the two rivals. One went into the sea, the other went to Serra. They were thinking about the best way to convince the Mermaid.
She, in turn, installed as if she was at home and waited.
First came the Fisherman. He brought the Sea and handed it to his feet, painting it in soft green by the sand and deep blue in the distance, saying:
- All this is my Sea, and it is yours, Mermaid!
And the Mermaid stared at the sea, delighted with the gentle curl of the waves.
Suddenly, they heard the Serrano:
- Mermaid, here I am. I will give you a stone throne high above the world. I´ll ask the wind to lull your sleep, the sun to warm your days and the springs to refresh your time. Come with me and you will be Queen of the Mountain.
- You´re late, Serrano! Since I am the Queen of the Sea - the Mermaid answered.
Enraged by being rejected, he rolled huge rocks from the Serra to the Sea, surrounding the Mermaid. If she does not climb the mountain then the mountain wikk come down the hills to the Sea
The sea was angry, and for nights and days and days and nights he threw himself against the rocks, but he could not destroy them.
And so it continued until the Mermaid, not being able to decide, turner into a sand as fine as there is no equal, receiving the tribute of two eternal in love giants, sometimes rivals, other enemies and others great friends.
The place is now called Praia da Rocha (Rock Beach).
Praia Da Rocha started is life in the 1930's as a quiet and elegant resort and soon became one of the most famous beaches in Algarve and in the whole country.
Praia da Rocha has had the Blue Flag award for several years ( (visit link) ).
Given coordinates are from the eastern entrance of the beach near the Marina.
The western end of Praia da Rocha is at the 3 Castelos Belvedere (N 37° 07.033 W 008° 32.568)
Legend is published in the Book "Lendas Portuguesas" (Portuguese legends) by Fernanda Frazão
Website Source: [Web Link]
Additional Requirement?: Not listed
What's the Real Story?: Not listed
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