Tourist Attractions in Viana do Castelo
The district capital of Viana do Castelo, charmingly situated at the mouth of the Rio Lima below Monte de Santa Luzia, is an important harbor on this part of the Portuguese Atlantic coast, here called the Costa Verde. Although it has some industry textiles, timber, fishprocessing and shipbuilding its attractive townscape and good beaches also make it popular with tourists.
History
Originally a Greek trading post, and still a modest little port in the Middle Ages, Viana achieved prosperity and importance at the time of the great voyages of discovery in the reign of Manuel I, especially on account of the then very profitable cod fisheries off the coast of Newfoundland. In the 19th C., during the conflict between the Liberals and the monarchy, it sided with the Royalists and thus earned its charter from Queen Maria II and was henceforth known as Viana do Castelo, having previously been called Viana da Foz do Lima.
Townscape
Its many handsome Manueline and Renaissance mansions and palaces, with their ornate granite facades, recall the splendors of the town's past. Largo 5 de Outubro (parking lot), on the Rio Lima, makes a good starting point for a walk round Viana do Castelo. Walk a short way upstream, then turn north, along the Rua S. Cabral, to the cathedral.
History
Originally a Greek trading post, and still a modest little port in the Middle Ages, Viana achieved prosperity and importance at the time of the great voyages of discovery in the reign of Manuel I, especially on account of the then very profitable cod fisheries off the coast of Newfoundland. In the 19th C., during the conflict between the Liberals and the monarchy, it sided with the Royalists and thus earned its charter from Queen Maria II and was henceforth known as Viana do Castelo, having previously been called Viana da Foz do Lima.
Townscape
Its many handsome Manueline and Renaissance mansions and palaces, with their ornate granite facades, recall the splendors of the town's past. Largo 5 de Outubro (parking lot), on the Rio Lima, makes a good starting point for a walk round Viana do Castelo. Walk a short way upstream, then turn north, along the Rua S. Cabral, to the cathedral.
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Praça da República
On the lovely Praça da República stands the Igreja da Misericórdia, the Misericord Hospice, and the old town hall.
Casa de Joao Jácome de Luna
Opposite the cathedral stands the Casa de Joao Jácome de Luna, mid 16th C. and with sculpture probably from a previous building on the south facade.
Casa dos Velhos
The Casa dos Velhos, north of the cathedral, is a 15th C. building with a distinct Galician look.
Castelo de Sao Tiago da Barra
In the south corner of the broad Campo do Castelo, south of the chapel, is the Castelo de Sao Tiago da Barra, built in the 16th C. to defend the harbor. The two towers were added in the 18th C.
Cathedral
The cathedral was built in the first half of the 15th C. and substantially altered in the 19th C. The two crenellated towers flanking the facade are Romanesque. The interior has fine polychrome wood carving, mainly 17th C.
Convento de Santa Ana
After the town hall comes the Convento de Santa Ana, now the Hospital da Caridade, a former Benedictine convent dating, with its Manueline tower, from the 16th C. Its church has rich talha dourada decoration.
Câmara Municipal
North along the Rua C. dos Reis is the present town hall, the Câmara Municipal, a mansion begun in the 16th C. and completely remodeled in the 18th C.
Festas da Senhora da Agonia
One of Portugal's most distinctive festivals and pilgrimages, festival of regional dancing and singing and procession in regional costumes, bull running, carnival parade, fireworks.
The festival takes place over three or four days near August 20.
The festival takes place over three or four days near August 20.
Igreja de Santa Luzia
The Monte de Santa Luzia (250m/820ft) is about 5km/3mi northeast of Viana do Castelo, topped by its 19th C. Neo Byzantine church of Santa Luzia, a place of pilgrimage. It can be reached by car and by a funicular which leaves from near the station. It is worth making the trip if only for the magnificent view.
There are traces of a CelticIberian settlement just north of the church which was inhabited until the fourth C. A.D.
There are traces of a CelticIberian settlement just north of the church which was inhabited until the fourth C. A.D.
Igreja de Sao Domingos
Back at the square below Nossa Senhora da Agonia and then past the well shaded Praça do Gen. Barbosa the walk continues to the Igreja de Sao Domingos which was built in Renaissance style between 1566 and 1575 as the church of a Dominican abbey. According to the local guidebook the talha dourada altar in the Nossa Senhora do Rósario sidechapel is the finest in Europe.
Municipal Museum
The municipal museum diagonally opposite the Igreja de Sao Domingos is housed in the 18th C. mansion of the Barbarosa Macieis family, and has displays of furniture from Portuguese India (17th C.) and Moorish Spain, as well as an important collection of 18th C. Portuguese glazed earthenware.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Nossa Senhora da Agonia
The walk round Viana do Castelo continues westward from the Convento de Santa Ana through the Avenida da Carreira and the Rua S. Tiago to Nossa Senhora da Agonia, the chapel of Our Lady in Sorrow, a place of pilgrimage approached by a Baroque flight of steps. Begun in the mid 18th century, the chapel did not have a belfry until the late 19th century.
Nossa Senhora da Agonia
Campo de Nossa Senhora da Agonia
Viana do Castelo
Portugal
Campo de Nossa Senhora da Agonia
Viana do Castelo
Portugal
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Rua de Altamira
The Rua de Altamira leading down to the river soon brings this walk round the town back to its starting point.
