History
Rates is a historic small town that developed around the Monastery of Rates, established by Henry, Count of Portugal in 1100 AD on the site of an older temple dating to the 9th century and with sculpture elements dating to the Roman empire. A Roman road runed through it. Rates naming seems pre-Roman in origin. It gained importance due to the legend of Saint Peter of Rates, mythical first bishop of Braga and martyr while attempting to convert Roman pagans to Christianity, becoming in a central place in the Portuguese Way of Saint James.
The Town of Rates, a municipality, already existed in the 13th century and the ecclesiastical parish exists from time immemorial, while the earliest record is from the 11th century.
In the 16th century, the monastery was dissolved and a commendation of the Order of Christ was created. Its first knight commander was Tomé de Sousa, who John III of Portugal made the first Governor of Brazil.
The town was extinct has it lost its municipal status in 1836 and was annexed to Póvoa de Varzim. It gained town status on July 2, 1993, due to its historical importance. This new status is merely honorary in nature and not of administrative importance.
Clock tower Former town hall and pillory The main square of RatesRead more about this topic: Rates
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