Quiet Portuguese Town Experiences Upsurge With Arrival of Immigrants and Sees Its Economy Grow, With Salaries Above Minimum Wage and Safety That Attracts Families, Including Brazilian Ones

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 16/05/2025 at 15:45

Créditos: Bruno Esteves / Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 3.0

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From Declining City to Symbol of Renewal: With 4,000 Immigrants from 78 Countries, Fundão Attracts Families, Boosts the Economy, and Establishes Itself as a Permanent Destination

In the interior of Portugal, a small municipality has stood out as an example of welcome and renewal. With around 27,000 inhabitants, Fundão now hosts 4,000 immigrants from 78 different countries. What was once a city with declining population has become a permanent destination for many seeking a fresh start.

Attractive City for Immigrants

In the 1960s, Fundão had 50,000 inhabitants. Over time, the population nearly halved. But the scenario began to change with the arrival of immigrants.

Today, it is common to hear various languages in the streets. Indians, Nepalese, Guineans, English, Ukrainians, and Brazilians live side by side. The Brazilian community represents 25% of the city’s immigrants.

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Stories of Those Who Chose to Stay

Narion Coelho, 46, is one of the Brazilians who decided to restart in Fundão. Coming from Curitiba in 2021 with her husband and two children, she recounts that it all started with a job offer that came through a friend on Facebook. The company expedited the documentation, and within two months the move was made.

They had the option to go to Lisbon, Porto, or Fundão. They chose the inland city for its quality of life and safety. “In Curitiba, we lived 600 meters from the school and even then my son couldn’t walk there due to insecurity,” Narion reports. “Everything changed here.”

The adaptation was quick. Two weeks after arrival, the children were already enrolled in local schools. With documentation and contract in hand, the family did not face many obstacles. For this reason, Narion refers to herself as part of the “Nutella” immigrants.

Support Among Immigrants

Even with fewer difficulties, she noticed that many newcomers feel lost. This is how the Brazuca and Friends Support Association was born.

The initiative helps immigrants of different nationalities with information about documents, procedures, and local services. “The procedures differ depending on nationality. We know Brazil’s best, of course, but we always try to help everyone,” she explains.

The spirit of collaboration extends beyond the association. People from various backgrounds help each other. “It’s a chain of good,” Narion sums up.

Fundão as a Permanent Destination

The Brazilian has set up a local business, Empório CWB, where she sells Brazilian products. She and her husband are looking to buy a house, a sign that they intend to stay.

The president of the Fundão City Council, Paulo Fernandes, states that “about 80% of the people who arrive here settle in the municipality.” One example is Daniel Silva, 34, who came from Goiânia with his whole family. Today, they all live in the village of Alcongosta, where more than 50 Brazilians already reside.

Fundão is no longer just a transit point. It has become the final destination for many families.

With information from BBC.

Quiet Portuguese Town Experiences Upsurge With Arrival of Immigrants and Sees Its Economy Grow, With Salaries Above Minimum Wage and Safety That Attracts Families, Including Brazilian Ones