The Rooster of Barcelos

I first noticed these colourful rooster figurines in the souvenir shops in Lisbon and honestly thought they had something to do with Nando’s. It was only when our local guide pointed them out that I learned they are actually the national symbol of Portugal.

And there’s a fascinating legend behind this cheerful little rooster.

The famous Rooster of Barcelos (Portuguese: Galo de Barcelos) comes from a medieval tale. Long ago, a pilgrim was passing through Barcelos on his way to Santiago de Compostela when he was wrongly accused of theft and sentenced to hang.

Desperate to prove his innocence, he begged to see the judge, who happened to be enjoying a roasted rooster for dinner. The pilgrim pointed to the bird and declared, “I am innocent — and to prove it, that rooster will crow when I am on the gallows.” Everyone laughed…

But just as the execution was about to happen, the roasted rooster stood up and crowed loudly. The shocked judge rushed to stop the hanging, and the pilgrim was saved just in time.

Today, that colourful rooster has become a symbol of faith, justice, and good luck — and you can find it absolutely everywhere in Portugal: on coasters, plaques, aprons, magnets, mugs, tiles, and almost anything you can imagine.