Adaptation of the homonymous novel by Júlio Dantas. Trying to highlight the romantic tone, the ruralism of the picturesque situations and environments, the spirit and characters of 1863 are revived: the characteristic loves of Margarida and Clara, the distinguished morals of Pedro and Daniel, the bonhomie of João Semana, finally the disagreements , common sense, tenderness, rituals and landscape involvement of Minho.

Falacha is the captain of a fishing boat, who loses his men in a shipwreck. Among them was the husband of Aurélia, who holds Falacha responsible for the tragedy. Maria, Falacha's daughter, falls in love with Manuel, Aurélia's son, a situation that their mothers refuse to accept.

The ill-conceived loves of Rosa, a modest seamstress, and Fernando a doctor, leaving in the shadow the fateful passion of António (a liberal) for the young woman.

Caleidoscope of documentary-like scenes and re-enacted episodes of a day in the life of a large port town – Lisbon, from the old district around Saint George's Castle down to the docks and the 'Sagres' on the Tagus river, to the new commercial districts.

Having abandoned his family due to religious differences, Dr Silveira moves to Coimbra, where he dedicates himself to his patients, and rejecting any attempts at reconciliation. But, when a terrible accident happens to his son, he must seek a resolution to the debate between faith and science.