Portuguese Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, Portuguese history is American history. The connection dates back to the 19th-century whaling industry, which brought intrepid sailors from the Azores and Cabo Verde to the shores of New Bedford and Nantucket. Today, that legacy is alive in the vibrant cobblestone streets of New Bedford and the hills of Fall River, where Portuguese is spoken as commonly as English. The state offers a unique 'New England Portuguese' cuisine—think clam boils with chouriço and spicy kale soup (caldo verde). Beyond the South Coast, substantial communities in Cambridge, Somerville, and Hudson keep the traditions of the Continent and the Islands alive with modern flair.