Portugal City Travel Guide: Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim, reached in an hour on the Porto metro Line B from the center of town is a thriving resort on Portugal's Atlantic Coast.
Along with Vila do Conde, the municipal area has a population of around 100,000 people making it the third largest town in northern Portugal after Porto and Braga.
Historically a fishing port and ship-building centre during the Age of Discoveries, Póvoa de Varzim is now a popular ocean resort with a casino, 12 km of good beaches for swimming and surfing and many hotels. People have been coming to Póvoa de Varzim to bathe in the iodine-rich waters (from the local seaweed) since the late 19th century.
Places of historic interest in Póvoa de Varzim include the Castelo da Póvoa, built between 1701 and 1740 to protect the town from pirates, the Praça Velha (Old Square) with the nearby Igreja Matriz and the House of António Cardia, a 16th century Portuguese seafarer active in Brazil.
Also of note are the early 16th century, Manueline Pelourinho or pillory in Praça do Almada and the 18th century, Neoclassical Town Hall (Câmera Municipal).
Modern-day Póvoa de Varzim is dominated by its sea-front lined with hotels, fine beaches, a marina and a casino.
Rates, a village in the interior of Póvoa de Varzim, has a number of historical treasures including the ancient, Romanesque Monastery of Rates (Igreja São Pedro de Rates), a clock tower and pillory.
19th and early 20th century Póvoa de Varzim was something of a meeting places for writers, poets and artists. People such as local boy José Maria de Eça de Queiroz (1845-1900), Almeida Garrett, Raul Germano Brandão (1867-1930), Teixeira de Pascoaes (1877-1952), and Agustina Bessa-Luís are all associated with the town.
The fine neo-classical Casino da Póvoa close to the sea dates from the 1930s. As well as Blackjack, French Bank (Banca Francesa), Roulette and slots, the casino has a year-round entertainments program. There is also a restaurant, several bars, a theater and an art gallery within. The 4-star One Grand Hotel da Póvoa adjacent to the casino was built at the same time.
Póvoa de Varzim, was and still is, a centre of theatre and orchestral music. Theatres sprung up in the late 18th and early 19th century to provide evening entertainment to the bathers taking the waters during the day. The historic Garrett Theatre dates originally from 1873 with the current building constructed in 1890. The annual Correntes d'Escritas prize is a literary competition in the city with a substantial prize donated by the casino.
Another popular form of entertainment in Póvoa de Varzim is bull-fighting at the Póvoa de Varzim Bullfighting Arena (Monumental Praça de Touros da Póvoa de Varzim). The venue includes the Salvação Barreto Bullfighting Museum and stages its biggest event in July.
Museums in Póvoa de Varzim include the Ethnography and History Museum of Póvoa de Varzim housed in the Solar dos Carneiros, the former home of the Viscount of Azevedo. The museum has a maritime theme with wooden boats but also includes Roman archaeological finds, traditional dolls and ceramics.
The Santa Casa Museum of Póvoa de Varzim in Largo das Dores displays exhibits of religious paintings and icons.
Póvoa de Varzim Tourist Office
Póvoa de Varzim Tourist Office.
Marques de Pombal, 4490-442.
Tel. 252 298 120.
Getting to Póvoa de Varzim
Train Travel in Portugal
Póvoa de Varzim is no longer connected by railway but the former railway line is now the Porto metro Line B. Trains take 1 hour from central Portugal to Póvoa de Varzim Station.
Car Travel in Portugal
Take the IC1/A28 highway north from Porto to Póvoa de Varzim. The A7 highway connects to Guimarães and Vila Nova de Famalicão and the A11 to Braga and Barcelos.
Bus Travel in Portugal
Póvoa de Varzim has bus connections to Porto (45 minutes), Lisbon (4 hours, 45 minutes), Viseu (3 hours) and other destinations.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Póvoa de Varzim has a large number of good places to stay including the 3-star Sol Povoa Hotel, the beach-front 2-star Hotel Avenida, the budget guesthouse Sardines & Friends and the 4-star Axis Vermar Conference & Beach Hotel, located 2 km from the city centre.
See here for a full listing of hotel accommodation in Povoa de Varzim.
Featured Hotel
The Grande Hotel da Povoa, Largo do Passeio Alegre, nº 20, 4490-428 Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal.
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Eating
Póvoa de Varzim has a large number of excellent restaurants serving Portuguese seafood cuisine on the sea front. Some recommendations are Restaurante Bodegão on Rua Paulo Barreto, and nearby Theatro housed in a superb old building multi-functions as a restaurant, wine bar, book store and art gallery. ÉleBê Póvoa is another great eatery close to the casino. The small restaurant chain also has three restaurants in Porto.
The one truly dedicated vegetarian restaurant is Veggie Mercearia & Cafetaria which serves wholesome, organic dishes Tuesday to Sunday. The restaurant also doubles as a health food store.
Drinking
Near the beach is Rouge Pub, a rock and roll bar with live music events. Also try Berlin Café on the seafront for coffee or cocktails. List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising
Internet
WiFi is available in nearly all hotels in the area.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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