By the 1800s, however, this 'loyal friend' as it was nicknamed, had become the primary food for ordinary people. The fish were salted on board and dried back on land this preserved food was perfect for expeditioners and was popular among the upper classes. And it's fascinating.Īfter the discovery of cod in the Atlantic during the Age of Discovery in the 15th century, Portuguese sailors headed to the coast of Newfoundland where they fished and fished some more.

Cod-focused facts – such as the number of fins (six), species (200) families (10), and weight (up to 44kg) – are delivered quirkily on a microwave oven screen and hanging cardboard cod cut-outs. Rather, virtual cod 'swim' across dinner tables and fishermen share their hardy adventures at sea through recordings. The museum is big on special effects, but small on actual boats or fishing equipment (for this, don't miss the fabulous Ílhavo Maritime Museum, 200 kilometres north-west of Lisbon). Or when the word bacalhau (cod) appears repeatedly across your restaurant menus.įor a filleted version of the country's cod chronicle, Lisbon's Interpretative Centre of the History of Cod is a hi-tech museum that opened in 2020 and pays homage to cod fishing. Such as when you catch a passing whiff of something so strongly 'marine' it makes your nose scrunch (chances are it's dried cod).

Instead, like the Portuguese themselves, they reveal themselves unassumingly. And, whether you're aware of it or not, it's integral to any travel experience in Portugal, as I'm reminded on my recent visit.įor although Portugal is renowned for its codfish, these ''fishy' encounters are less about the Instagram snaps (custard tarts, anyone?).

Cod fish that changed the world