Matosinhos is na Atlantic municipality in the north of Portugal with over 180,000 inhabitants, part of the Porto Metropolitan Area and strongly linked to the blue economy. The sea shapes its identity, its history and its future: here you will find Portugal's largest sardine fishing port, renowned research centres focused on sustainability and na industrial and maritime heritage preserved in canneries and museums that celebrate traditional knowledge.
Gastronomy is the cultural heart of Matosinhos. With over 400 restaurants and one of the highest densities of restaurants in the country, we live and breathe sea food cuisine. Fish and sea food of exceptional quality, sourced daily from local markets and fish auctions, inspires chefs, communities and visitors, transforming simplicity and freshness into culinary art. The architectural and cultural heritage reinforces this contemporary and creative identity. Matosinhos is the birth place of the renowned architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, winner of the Pritzker Prize, but it is also the place of origin of the scallop shell of St. James Way.
With 14km of coastline, excelente beaches and ideal conditions for surfing and water sports, Matosinhos is an innovative, welcoming and vibrant territory —where the sea, gastronomy and culture come together in a creative and sustainable dialogue.