Plan a trip to Viana Do Castelo

Viana do Castelo is the lovely and colorful capital city of the Minho Province in Portugal. Located near the mouth of the Lima River, it was an important fishing port known for its handicrafts, filigree work, and embroidered cotton and linen.

Considered the pearl of Costa Verde, Viana do Castelo is surrounded by beautiful scenery and boasts a charming medieval center as well as gorgeous bathing beaches that extend outside the town. The city features 19th century leafy boulevards as well as narrow streets lined with Manueline and Rococo style mansions.

The city has many tourist attractions, including the Praca Da Republica, one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Portugal, which is in the center of the city and includes a graceful 16th century fountain. Castelo Santiago da Barra, a fortress located on the riverside in the fishermen's port, has 15th century origins as a small fort. It was merged into a larger fort in the late 16th century to protect the thriving port from pirate attacks, and it is surrounded by a moat, accessible only via a bridge.

The magnificent Santuario de Santa Luzia, an outstanding 20th century Byzantine-style structure, is a Viana do Castelo icon which dominates its skyline. The summit of the basilica offers spectacular views of northern Portugal.

The Igreja Matriz Cathedral, also called Se, was originally built in Gothic style in the 15th century, and it went through several incarnations. Its façade has two grand towers, and its entry has a sculptural ensemble of the six Apostles.

Viana do Castelo is a delightful city for strolling, especially on Sundays and holidays when the locals dress in traditional costumes- women in embroidered skirts and scarves, and men in colorful waistcoats and black wide-brimmed hats.