Located at the mouth of the Limia River, Viana do Castelo is a charming town on Portugal’s Atlantic coast. A mountaintop church watches over its historic core and golden sweep of sand while the Portuguese Way travels through the town on its route to Santiago de Compostela.
Things to do in Viana do Castelo
Stroll through the centre of Viana do Castelo to admire its centuries-old buildings, several of which frame the atmospheric Praça da República. Take note of the Venetian arcade and two-storey loggia of the Santa Casa Da Misericórdia, as well as the coat of arms that adorns the 16th-century City Hall.
For sweeping views across the surrounding region, jump aboard the 1920s funicular connecting to Santuário de Santa Luzia. This mountaintop church combines elements of Byzantine and Gothic architectural styles, with a beautifully decorated interior and a domed roof. A short walk from the sanctuary will take you to the ruins of an Iron Age settlement, which was inhabited from the 7th century BC until Roman times.
If you’re interested in Viana do Castelo’s cultural heritage, visit Museu do Traje, which showcases traditional costumes from throughout the centuries. Highlights of the collection include embroidered dresses decorated with gold filigree and workwear worn by farmers and fishers. Another museum not to miss is the Geraz do Lima Carriage Museum, where you’ll find more than 50 antique carriages from Europe and the Americas.
Getting around Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo is around an hour’s drive from Porto and 45 minutes from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Trains connect to the Viana do Castelo railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Viana do Castelo can easily be explored on foot.