Viana do Castelo
Portugal City Travel Guide: Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo
City Guide I
Turismo I Arrival
I Accommodation
I Entertainment
- picturesque resort in the Minho region.
- population 36,000.
- located on the banks of the River Lima.
- good beaches and watersports.
- within easy reach of Porto & Braga.
- historic city center with fine architecture.
- famous for the Romaria festival in August.
Viana do Castelo is one of northern Portugal's
best resorts. Located on the northern bank of the Lima estuary the
town has a long sea-faring tradition. Explorers, traders and fishermen
set sail from its port for South America, Africa and Newfoundland.
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The heart of Viana do Castelo is the elegant Praça da República
- this lovely square of Renaissance buildings includes the Chafariz
fountain at its center and the striking Misericórdia
almshouse dates from 1589. The old town hall, Câmara Municipal,
is another fine Renaissance building in the square.
The nearby Igreja Matriz is the town's parish church and
dates from the 15th century. The Meseu Municipal (City Museum)
is located in an 18th century palace and houses a collection of
ceramics, azulejos and paintings.
The Castelo de Santiago da Barro at the mouth of the river
was built by the Spanish king Philip II to protect the port from
pirates and there's a market on Fridays outside its walls.
There is a fantastic view of the town and the river from the top
of the hill at Monte De Santa Luzia. Set in the eucalyptus
trees on the summit is a modern basilica and a set of Celtic remains.
Viana do Castelo's beach Praia do Cabedelo is across the
river from town and reached by a five-minute ferry crossing. The
beach is ideal for waterports of all kinds: surfing, windsurfing,
kayaking, even good, old-fashioned swimming. The beach is as yet
pleasantly undeveloped so it is a good idea to bring along your
own food and drink for the day. North of town the beach continues
on virtually uninterrupted to the Spanish border and the area is
good for hiking, surfing and cycling. It is also possible to take a short
river trip up the Lima.
Viana do Castelo is also rightly famous for its annual Romaria
Festival held in August which features processions, fireworks
and the streets decorated with sawdust. Other smaller festivals
and music events take place throughout the year such as the Queima
das Fitas in Semana Académica when the town's students celebrate
in the style of Coimbra. Carnival is lively here too - check the
tourist office for all fetival details and dates.
Viana do Castelo Tourist Office
Rua do Hospital Velho
Praça da Erva
Tel: 258 822 660
Fax: 258 827 873
Getting to Viana do Castelo
There are fairly frequent expresso long-distance services
to Braga and Porto.
The bus station is 2km from the city centre along Avenida Capitao
Gaspar de Castro. The following bus companies operate services:
AV Cura/Transcolvia (to Ponte de Lima, Valença), REDM/Rede
Expressos (to Braga, Porto,
Lisbon), AVIC/Transcoinha (to Porto,
Lisbon), AV Minho (to Porto).
From Porto (90 minutes), Braga (75 minutes; change at Nine). The
station is at the foot of Monte de Santa Luzia. There are also trains to Valença.
Book Accommodation in Viana do Castelo
Recommended Hotel
Hotel
Margarida da Praça
12 rooms, a suite and fine restaurant close to the Praça
da República
Largo 5 de Outubro, 58
4900-515
Tel. (+351) 258 80 96 30
Fax (+351) 258 80 96 39
The Pousada de juventude (Youth hostel) is 1 km east of the town
center (Tel: 258 800 260).
There is another rather quirky youth hostel on board the
old hospital ship the Gil Eannes - a floating clinic for fishermen working on the cod fisheries in Newfoundland (Tel: 258 821 582), which also
doubles up as a museum.
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There are a wide range of excellent restaurants in town, which cater
to the many domestic tourists who holiday here. It is also possible to eat at guesthouses without being a guest. There are also a number of good bars in the town.
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The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22C and 26C.
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