A pilgrim was passing through Barcelos on his way to Santiago de Campostela, when he was wrongfully accused of a crime and sentenced to hang. He tried to appeal, but the judge was already at dinner and would hear none of it. The pilgrim then prophesied that the rooster being eaten for dinner was more likely to serve justice than the judge was. As the noose was being tightened around his neck, the half eaten rooster stood up on the table and crowed loudly. The pilgrim was set free.

A depiction of the legend can be seen on this crucifix.  The pilgrim about to be hanged is shown in the main block, and the crowing rooster is just at the foot of the cross.

Central Barcelos