About São João da Madeira

São João da Madeira is a town and municipality in the Portuguese district of Aveiro. The town itself has a population of approximately 35,000 inhabitants while the municipality, which includes several small towns and villages, has a population of around 55,000. The town is best known for its shoe industry which has been present since the 19th century and still dominates the local economy today. The origins of São João da Madeira can be traced back to the 12th century when a small chapel was built in honor of Saint John the Baptist. The chapel became a popular pilgrimage site and, over time, a small village grew up around it. In the 13th century, the village was granted a charter by King Dinis and, during the 14th and 15th centuries, it became an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Shoemaking began to develop as an important industry in São João da Madeira during the 18th century. The industry continued to grow throughout the 19th century and, by the early 20th century, the town was one of the largest producers of shoes in Portugal. Today, the shoe industry is still the town's main economic activity with many of the local factories exporting their products all over the world. São João da Madeira is a lively town with a good selection of shops, restaurants, and cafes. The town's central square, Praça da República, is a popular meeting place and the site of the weekly open-air market. There are also several parks and green spaces in the town, including the large Parque da Cidade which offers views of the surrounding countryside. Just outside of São João da Madeira is the pilgrimage site of Fátima which attracts millions of visitors each year. The town is also well-connected, with good road and rail links to the rest of Portugal.