LOCAL CULTURE
As already mentioned, the territory shapes the people and the people shape the territory, giving rise to a specific, autochthonous culture. In this way, culture and customs must not be forgotten during the urban project, given that the intervention will be guided by the daily needs of residents.
The culture of Gondomar can be characterized in different ways, but its legacy lies mainly in gold mining, goldsmithing, the woodworking industry and agricultural and fishing activities. Agriculture, commerce, handicrafts, as well as other industries, in particular those of tanning, metalworking, baking and leather goods, constitute the areas with the greatest implantation.
The culture of Campanhã is also based on many of these economic activities: fishing, agriculture, carpentry, lime production, manufacture of wax matches, toothpicks, filigree work, distillery, soap making and tanneries.
MINING EXPLORATION
The mining industry, like that of S. Pedro da Cova, was of great importance in the economic and social development of the county. As a matter of fact, it has recently employed a lot of people from Pedrenses. Between 1880 and 1890, there was the peak of coal, gold and quartz exploration.
Coal mines were the ones that managed to survive the longest. All production was commercialized in the internal market, with the city of Porto being the main market, due to its proximity. The extraction of coal from the bottom of the mines was the responsibility of the men, while the women on the surface separated the coal from materials of no mining interest.
FARM
Gondomar, being one of the main suppliers of vegetables for the Porto markets, is a land of agricultural traditions, where some farmers still practice traditional agriculture. Agriculture is the largest and oldest source of income for this people. Proximity to an important consumer center allows the direct sale of products and a constant update of current food needs.
GOLD WORKS AND WOODWORK INDUSTRY
In this municipality, both the production of jewelery and woodwork occupy a prominent place at a national level. Carpentry, in particular carving, was crucial to the economy of Gondomar. It is a form of art that is carried out with great dexterity, transforming mahogany, oak, walnut or lignum vitae into delicate carved pieces used in furniture typical of this region, religious ornamentation and decoration pieces.
It is also important to build the “valboeiros” vessels, a typical Douro vessel, named after the parish of Valbom, used for artisanal shad and lamprey fishing and for transporting people and goods between the river banks.
Nowadays, carpentry, jewellery, wood carving and sausages predominate in the local economy.
FISHING EXPLORATION
In a mixture of rural and urban, Gondomar has a unique Ethnographic Heritage, of ancestral customs, based on lamprey fishing and artisanal fishing that are still practiced in the parish of Lomba. However, the fishing activity began to decline after the introduction of trawling, by boats with a higher draft. The processes used for this work were done in an artisanal way. Boats, such as the Valboeiro, became famous over time and, even now, are built as models for other fishing centres. At this time, although it continues to represent one of the economic activities of, for example, Valbom, fishing is no longer as important as it once was, although shad, lamprey, mullet, muge, eel, etc.
In the Parish Memories of 1758, Campanhã stands out for its fishermen, concentrated mainly along the banks of the Douro and enjoying tax exemptions since 1593.