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VIANA DO CASTELO
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Sitting comfortably between the Lima
estuary and the base of rolling hills, Viana do Castelo is most
noted for its pottery and regional handicrafts, most of which
can be purchased in the Friday market.
King Afonso III granted it a charter in 1258 when it was a small
fishing village. He built a tower at the mouth of the river
to protect the village from pirates from Galicia and North Africa.
From fishing Viana expanded to maritime commerce with Northern
Europe and later with Brazil. It became one of the busiest ports
in Portugal, becoming closely linked with the Age of Discoveries
via a native son,
Gonçalo Velho, one of the first navigators of Prince
Henry, who was given the task of
populating the Azores Islands.
It was later elevated to a city in 1847 as a reward for the
loyalty of the Commander of the Castle, by Queen Maria II. Viana
had been besieged by the forces of the Count of Antas, who rose
against the Cabrais during the Patuleia Civil War. The commander
went to Lisbon and gave the key of the castle to the royal sovereign.
She elevated Viana to a city and changed its name from Viana
da Foz do Lima to Viana do Castelo.
What to see. In the centre of town, Praça da República
is one of the most handsome squares in Portugal. At its heart
is the much-photographed Chafariz Fountain, constructed in the
16th century, while the most impressive building on the square
is the church of the Misericórdia, a unique three-storey
structure featuring Roman arches and Renaissance balconies.
The town's parish church was begun by King João I in
1285 and completed in 1433. Dominated by a large Gothic arched
portal, the façade is flanked by two battlemented towers,
while the interior is emblazoned with an excellent "trompe-l'oeil"
ceiling. The municipal museum housed in an 18th-century palace
displays rare ceramics, furniture, paintings and some of the
regions most interesting archaeological discoveries.
Nearby. Reached by road or funicular railway, the Monte
de Santa Luzia 3 km from the centre of town offers exceptional
views of Viana do Castelo and the Minho coastline. At the top
is a basilica completed in 1926, a pousada hotel and traces
of a Celtiberian settlement nearby. Accessible by road or ferry,
the excellent beach of Praia do Cabedelo lies to the south of
the town. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
