Arte Xávega, Espinho

ESPINHO, PORTUGAL, JANUARY 2014

Arte Xávega is an ancient fishing tradition still alive along Portugal’s coast — especially in communities like Espinho. It is a ritual that connects sea and land: casting large nets from boats and hauling them back to shore with strength, rhythm, and teamwork.

This photo essay follows the fishermen who keep this heritage alive — a life marked by tides, labor, and pride. Where oxen once pulled the nets, tractors now do the job. But the essence of xávega endures: raw, rhythmic, and rooted in the soul of the coast.