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Rates (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁatɨʃ]) is a Portuguese parish and town located in the...

Rates (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁatɨʃ]) is a Portuguese parish and town located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,539 inhabitants and a total area of 13.88 square kilometres. Rates is a historic small town that developed around the Monastery of Rates, established by Henry of Burgundy in 1100 AD on the site of an older temple. It gained importance due to the legend of Saint Peter of Rates, first bishop of Braga, becoming in a central place in the Portuguese Way of Saint James. It has been inhabited since the Roman era; archaeological works in its church date the site from the Roman era, and there was a Roman road running through it. In the 16th century, the monastery was dissolved and a Comenda of the Order of Christ was created. Its first Comendador was the Noble Knight Tomé de Sousa, who John III of Portugal made Governor of Brazil. It lost its municipal status in 1836 and was annexed to Póvoa de Varzim. It became a town again on July 2, 1993, mostly due to its historical importance. Rates is located 11 km east of downtown Póvoa de Varzim; and borders Laundos to the west, and Balasar to the east. In the northeast it has a