Rabelos Boats: History and some curiosities

Whoever passes by the margins of the Douro River in Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia, certainly will not be oblivious to the small wooden boats that stood out there. The famous Rabelo Boats appeal to tradition, appeal to antiquity, appeal to the bravery and courage of the Portuguese people. Rabelo Boats are History. Perhaps a story that few people know…

Rabelos Boats: A piece of the portuguese history 

Before the creation of roads and railways, the distant and remote port wine estates were only accessible via Rio. It was here that delicious Port Wine was made, the gold of Portugal for a long time, and not it could be forgotten here. It had to be shown to the world. It had to be appreciated by the world. And so, the Rabelo Boats played a major role in the dignification of this delicious Portuguese Wine.

At this time, the river was a calm and pleasant place. Until the dams started to be built in the 70s, this treacherous river had a fast and turbulent current. For this reason, its exasperated waters ran proudly, with no pity for anyone they could leave behind. And it was these same waters that the Rabelo Boats broke through, it was these same waters that courageous Portuguese sailors crossed.

The Rabelo Boat is considered a masterpiece for that time. Designed to survive the rapid currents of the Douro River, it was a flat-bottomed vessel, square sail, measuring between 19 to 23 meters. It was built with overlapping boards and was able to transport up to 100 barrels of Port Wine and a crew of up to twelve men.

In 1887 the legacy of Barco Rabelo began to fall, as the river was no longer the only option for the transport of goods due to the creation of the first railway line in the Douro. But even so, these boats have not fallen out of favor for decades. In fact, it is believed that the last trip of a Rabelo through the Douro River occurred in 1964.

Nowadays, traditional Rabelos continue to embellish the Douro River, but this time only in the riverside area. A cruise along the banks of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, in replicas of these boats, is still worthwhile. And on Dia de São João, June 24, the Rabelos race called “Regata Anual de Rabelos”, is one of the most awaited events of the year.they are used for river trips. Rabelos leave the port of Ribeira and cross all bridges, reaching the mouth of the Douro in the Atlantic Ocean. These boat trips are popularly called “cruises of the six bridges”.

They are used for river trips. Rabelos leave the port of Ribeira and cross all bridges, reaching the mouth of the Douro in the Atlantic Ocean. These boat trips are popularly called “cruises of the six bridges”. Rabelos offers a wonderful panoramic view of the river, its bridges, the city and the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia. Know moree about it here.