Handicraft and Gastronomy

In the handicraft, the Póvoa's pullover "camisola poveira" is one of the city's ex-libris. Another important ambassador is the Beiriz carpet unique in the national handicraft. The manufacture of carpets, rugs, and rag blankets as well as linen weaving is also very significant.

Póvoa de Varzim is well-served by good restaurants where distinct gastronomic traditions meet; on one hand, the Minho's cooking based upon meat and, on the other hand the Póvoa's traditional cooking, this one, naturally, honoring fish as the special guest in every recipe: "Pescada à Poveiro" (Póvoa's boiled whitefish), "Arroz de sardinha" (sardine's rice), etc... When served with the good wine of this region "vinho verde", these typical meals are simply delicious. For desert, "Rabanadas à Poveira" (Póvoa's golden toasts fried in milk and eggs with sugar) should be served with a glass of Port wine.

The quality of all these recipes is determined by the agricultural products of the region, mainly the vegetables; these are cultivated in the so-called "campos de maceira" (worked up fields protected from the wind).