Tourist Attractions in Barcelos
The very picturesque old town of Barcelos (altitude:40m/130ft), once capital of the first County established in Portugal (1298), lies on the right bank of the Rio Cávado 18km/11mi west of Braga. It is famous for the brightly colored pottery cockerels which have become a ubiquitous symbol of Portugal. The best day to visit Barcelos is Thursday, when Portugal's largest weekly market is held here.
The town of Barcelo houses a variety of monuments - notably, the Constables House, the Campo de Republica and a Museum of Arts and Handicrafts.
The town of Barcelo houses a variety of monuments - notably, the Constables House, the Campo de Republica and a Museum of Arts and Handicrafts.
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Campo da República
At the heart of Barcelos is the Campo da República, a large square which hosts a regular market.
Paço dos Duques de Bragança
The central point of the old town, uphill from the Torre de Menagem, are the ruins of the Paço dos Duques de Bragança, seat of the Counts of Barcelos and later of the Dukes of Bragança (15th-16th C.).
Paco dos Duques de Braganca
Rua Dr. Miguel Fonseca (antiga Rua Duques de Bragança)
4750-322 Barcelos
Portugal
Rua Dr. Miguel Fonseca (antiga Rua Duques de Bragança)
4750-322 Barcelos
Portugal
Hours
May 30 to October 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
November 30 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
Archeological Museum
With its wide terrace the dos Duques de Bragança is the setting for the Archeological Museum, an open-air lapidarium with inscribed stones and sculpture from the Roman period to the Middle Ages. A particularly notable item is the Cruzeiro do Senhor do Galo, a 14th C. wayside cross relating to the legend of the crowing cockerel.
Areias de Vilar, Portugal
(Near Barcelos)
At Areias de Vilar about 8km/5mi east of Barcelos is the Benedictine abbey of Vilar de Frades, now a home for the mentally handicapped. Here, too, is the Manueline church of Sao Lóios, with 18th C. azulejo pictures in two side chapels and a 15th C. Gothic copper cross in the sacristy.
Bom Jesús da Cruz
The handsome Baroque church of the Bom Jesús da Cruz (16th-17th C.), an octagonal structure on a centralized plan with an imposing granite dome and a richly decorated interior, shows clear Italian influence.
The Bom Jesús da Cruz is the venue for the religious festival of the crosses.
The Bom Jesús da Cruz is the venue for the religious festival of the crosses.
Capuchin Convent of the Misericórdia
Opposite the Torre de Menagem stands the former Capuchin convent of the Misericórdia (1649), now a hospital.
Cockerel
The story goes that a pilgrim traveling to Santiago de Compostela who had been wrongly accused of theft and condemned to death was saved from the gallows when he appealed to St James to make the hangman's roast cockerel crow in proof of his innocence. The grateful pilgrim then offered a pottery cockerel to St James in token of thanksgiving.
Igreja Matriz
Next to the Paço dos Duques de Bragança stands the Romanesque and Gothic parish church (Igreja Matriz) dating from the 13th-14th C. and remodeled in the 18th C. It has a Romanesque doorway with an impressive rose window and fine azulejo decoration in the interior.
Manhetes, Portugal
(Near Barcelos)
On a hill above the Cávado at Manhetes, 6km/4mi northeast of Barcelos, stands a fine 12th C. Romanesque church.
Monte Franqueira
Situated on the summit of Monte Franqueira (298m/978ft) about 6km/4mi southwest of Barcelos is the pilgrimage church of Nossa Senhora da Franqueira. Built in the 12th C. and much altered in subsequent centuries it offers fine views over the surrounding countryside. Near the summit are the ruins of the Castelo da Faria (1373) and remains of a pre-Roman settlement.
Ofir, Portugal
(Near Barcelos)
South of the estuary of the Cávado is the newly developed resort of Ofir, which until quite recently was a small fishing village.
Solar dos Pinairos
Opposite the Paço dos Duques de Bragança is the Gothic Solar dos Pinairos (1448), a granite built mansion with two towers and a beautiful arcaded courtyard.
In the middle of a grassed open space between the former duke's palace and the Solar dos Pinairos stands a 15th C. Gothic pelourinho, a pillory column, symbolizing the jurisdiction of the municipal authorities.
In the middle of a grassed open space between the former duke's palace and the Solar dos Pinairos stands a 15th C. Gothic pelourinho, a pillory column, symbolizing the jurisdiction of the municipal authorities.
Stone Bridge
Below the former palace a five arched stone bridge crosses the Rio Cávado. Originally built in the 14th C. it was rebuilt in the 16th C. and fully restored in the 19th C. From the gardens on the other side of the bridge there is a fine view over Barcelos old town.
Torre de Menagem
Near the Bom Jesús da Cruz is the Torre de Menagem or Porta Nova, a relic of the town's 16th C. fortifications which today houses the tourist information center and an exhibition of local arts and crafts.
Hours
April 1 to September 1
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 1 to March 1
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
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