Camariñas

Camariñas, named after a shrub that once grew along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, is now renowned for its production of bobbin lace. Although this plant, the camariña, now only grows in places like the Azores and Punta Umbría, Camariñas has preserved its artisanal heritage. In addition to fishing and shellfishing, which are economic pillars of the area, the region is famous for its bobbin lace, a textile technique that originated in Italy in the 16th century. This artisanal technique, taught in schools and convents, became popular across Europe due to being easier to learn than other textile methods. In bobbin lace, threads are intertwined using bobbins and fixed onto a pattern on a pillow called "mundillo." While Italy was a pioneer, Flanders and Normandy surpassed its production in the 17th century. Today, Camariñas is still internationally recognized for the quality of its bobbin lace, a tradition that has endured over the centuries.