The town of Nazaré has always captivated the world, as the home of the world's largest wave. Yet little is still known about this place, and it's significance in Portugal's rich maritime history. First founded on a legend known as "our lady of Nazare" in the 12th century on top of a hill, Nazare grew into a flourishing fishing and maritime center from the 15th century onwards, where the rulers back then decided to use the barren land around Nazare to grow trees that would later help build Portugal's fleet of ships during the Age of Discovery.
It's unique deep underwater canyon just meters away from shore and its sheltered cliffs made this an ideal place, although many remained aware of the giant waves and the raw power they bring every winter, which Nazare has been more popularly known for recently. From its humble beginnings as a fishing port to its evolution as the mecca for big wave surfing today, this mini documentary seeks to discover more about the city, its people and their stories, to uncover the very soul behind the wave.
Final word: this travel documentary could not be possible without the help of Joachim Figueira from Alma Tours Nazare, and the welcoming people of the town for opening their doors to share their rich family history. A big thanks to everyone!