Santa Maria da Feira
Castle Town: Santa Maria da Feira
Santa Maria da Feira is a medium-sized, industrial town of around 140,000 inhabitants in the Norte region of northern Portugal, just 22 km south of Porto. Administratively, the town is part of the district of Aveiro.
Located on an ancient crossroads in the region, Santa Maria da Feira is famous for its castle and some impressive churches.
It is the headquarters of Amorim, the world's leading producer of cork stoppers. It also produces a variety of other cork products for use as floor and wall coverings, insulation and clothing.
The name of the town comes from the fair (feira) that was held here starting in the beginning of the 12th century.
History
The area around Santa Maria da Feira was once crisscrossed by Roman roads such as the Via Olissipo-Bracara Augusta connecting Lisbon and Braga.
The fortress in the town dates back to the 11th century or possibly even earlier. The governor of the castle allied himself with Afonso Henriques at the Battle of São Mamede in 1128. Previously the castle was the scene of fighting during the Reconquista and changed hands several times between Christian and Muslim armies. The stone walls of the castle were added later in the 14th century.
Located on a hill, the fortress is oval-shaped with a barbican protecting the main gate. The impressive three-story keep has four conical towers. Within the walls are an hexagonal chapel and a cistern which supplied the castle with fresh water.
Museums & Churches
Among the churches of interest are the Igreja e Convento dos Lóios which dates from the 16th century. The complex consists of the convent building, to the south, and the Lóios Church to the north. There is a central cloister and fountain topped with an armillary sphere - a symbol of the Age of Discovery. The west façade is of architectural note being covered in blue and white azulejos tiles from the 17th century.
The Igreja da Misericórdia dates from the late 16th century but was badly damaged in the 1755 Earthquake and subsequently rebuilt. The church we see today dates from 1690 and is noted for its two historic statues one in wood and the other in stone from the 18th and 15th centuries respectively. The single nave church stands on Rua Doutor Elísio de Castro.
Santa Maria da Feira is famous for its signature pastry the fogaça. A sweet bun, the local delicacy was baked to ward off a plague in the Middle Ages and is celebrated at the Festa das Fogaceiras held annually on January 20.
The Visionarium was a private, science museum with interactive displays in Portuguese and English at Europarque. It had exhibits covering the Portuguese voyages of discoveries as well as the interiors of microchips and cells. It went bankrupt in 2018 and has now moved to nearby Espinho at the Centro Multimeios de Espinho until at least 2024.
The Museu do Papel (Paper Museum) in nearby Pacos de Brandao housed in a former paper mill founded in 1822.
The museum outlines the history of paper manufacturing in Portugal.
The paper produced in mills such as this one were made from cotton rags rather than wood pulp.
Festivals
Santa Maria da Feira is known for its Festa das Fogaceiras held annually on January 20. The festival sees young girls in traditional dress carrying castle-shaped fogaças cakes on their heads to give thanks for good health.
Viagem Medieval is a Medieval Fair that takes place in the first week of August below the walls of the impressive castle, the Castle of Santa Maria da Feira.
There are knights in armour, processions, and reenactments of the tragic love story of Inês de Castro and Dom Pedro.
In addition, shop and eat in a recreated souk, enjoy magic shows and other fun activities for the kids.
There are trains to Santa Maria da Feira from Campanha Station in Porto.
Santa Maria da Feira Tourist Office
Rua Dr. Roberto Alves 54, 4520-220 Santa Maria da Feira
Tel: 256 370 802
Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 6 pm; Saturday 10 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 5 pm
Getting to Santa Maria da Feira
Buses
There are expresso long-distance bus services to Porto (30 minutes).
By car the town is a 30 minute drive, depending on the traffic, from Porto on the A1 (tolls) or A29. From Braga it is 60 minutes on the A3. From Guimarães the journey by car is just over 60 minutes on the A41. From Vila Real allow around 90 minutes on the A4 and A11 going southwest.
Trains
Vila da Feira Station is the town's railway station, a little east from the center. There are trains to Porto to both Campanha and São Bento stations via Espinho-Vouga Station and also south to Aveiro also via Espinho. For Braga Station in Braga change in Porto.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
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Recommended Hotel
Nova Cruz Hotel
Rua S. Paulo Da Cruz - Apartado 125, 4524-909 Santa Maria da Feira
The 4-star hotel offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.
Other recommended hotels are the Hotel ibis Porto Sul Europarque, with outdoor pool, the Hotel dos Loios and Hotel Feira Pedra Bela.
See a full listing of hotels in Santa Maria da Feira.
Hotels in Portugal - Booking.com
Hostels in Portugal - Booking.com
Eating
There is a good selection of restaurants to choose from in Santa Maria da Feira.
For excellent local Portuguese cuisine and steak try Incanto at Rua Dr Antonio Carlos Ferreira Soares 21.
Also recommended are the excellent Petisco da Vila and Taberna do Xisto.
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The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22C and 26C.
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