Turismo Do Minho Hotel

Monte de Santa Luzia and Basilica

by micas_pt

About 5 km north Viana do Castelo is Santa Luzia hill and the Basilica.

The Basilica is very beautiful.

From the Basilica there's an astonishing view over Viana do Castelo, the bridge, the river and the sea.

I was up there for a while, enjoying the view, ...

Click here to see some Basilica's photos.

Click here to see some view's photos. My fondest memory of Viana do Castelo is the view i mentioned and the imposing Basilica.

Igreja da Senhora da Agonia

by Redang

I'd consider this Igreja/Church out of the touristy visits. I have the impression that just a few people have visited it. It's not far from the centre, not at all, but...

Address: Rua de Monserrate.

Castelo de S. Tiago da Barra

by ncfg

The Castle or Fort of Saint Tiago da Barra is a must see. It is located near the mouth of the river Lima, so you will have beautiful views from there.
This fort is a sixteenth century construction. It was built on the orders of Manuel I to help resolve the problems of pirates.
After exploring the fort, don't miss a visit to the headquarters of the Alto Minho Regional Tourist Board, which is installed in a building inside the fort.

My Viana do Castelo page

by Guana

The legend says that a youngster falled in love with a girl called Ana. As they lived apart, each one in its edge of the river Lima, every time the youngster saw someone known arriving from the side of his passionate, he asked "Viste Ana?" (seen Ana) and they answered " sim, vi Ana "(yes, saw Ana). And they repeated it so many times that Viana it was, first Viana do Lima, later Viana de Caminha, Viana do Estuário do Lima and finally in 1848, Viana do Castelo.

Located in the north of Portugal (Minho), in the estuary of River Lima, very it is known mainly by the Church Santa Luzia situated in the top of a mount with the same name. It received the name " do Castelo " when the city was raised, by D. Maria II, in 20 of January of 1848.
Since its remote origin when still called "Átrio", that Viana do Castelo is an important port of shelter for the fishing.

This territory was inhabited since pre-history, for nomads groups of hunters, as demonstrated by some paleolithic vestiges.
It was inhabited by the Romans until IV century. Although later inhabited by the suevos and visigodos, the vestiges are rare. Inhabited later by the Arabs, in VIII and IX century , then it suffered a contraction that would only be recouped after Christian reconquers. It was essentially the necessity to protect the fishing of the piracy attacks, that soon took to the construction of walls.