Flanked by lush-green pine forests, Esposende is an old fishing
village with some fine old buildings and airy town squares.
Boasting an idyllic setting on the estuary of the River Cávado,
some 50 km north of Oporto, it is a popular resort town for
the people of Northern Portugal, who take full advantage of
the area's excellent bathing conditions during the summer months. What to see. Archaeological diggings around Espinho have
revealed the remains of a Roman city and necropolis. Worth seeing
also are the ruins of the 18th-century fortress, while the town's
parish church of the Misericórdia was built in the 16th
century. The chapel of Our Lord of the Navigators has impressive
ornate paintings and gilt carvings. Nearby. Ofir on the south bank of the Cávado features
an expanse of golden, sandy beach, ideal for bathing, surfing
and windsurfing. Just south of Ofir and dating back to Roman
times, the sleepy village of Fão is close to the old
Roman camp of Belinho and the ruins of Banho Monastery. Visitors
driving in the countryside along the river are rewarded with
panoramas and secluded spots for river swimming or picnicking.
