| VILA DO CONDE |
27 km north of Oporto lies Vila do Conde, a delightful seaside town dominated by the enormous Convent of Santa Clara, built on a hill above the River Ave.
The town enjoyed its boom years as a ship-building centre during Portugal’s Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Today, with its lively Friday market and atmospheric medieval quarter, the old part remains an active fishing port, while the golden beaches of Guia and Forno are popular with families during the summer months.
What to see. Founded in 1318 and completely rebuilt in 1778, the Convent of Santa Clara contains the tombs of the nunnery’s founders, Dom Afonso Sanches (son of King Dinis) and his wife Dona Teresa Martins. The fountain in the cloister used to be fed by a 5-kilometre-long aqueduct, built in the 18th century. Much of it still remains, including some of the original 999 arches (note: the builders at that time thought that 1,000 arches would have offended God).
Below the convent in the old town, the 16th century parish church features an impressive Gothic doorway.
Vila do Conde is also a centre for lace-making, an art-form kept alive at the Escola de Rendas (Lace-making School) installed on the premises of the town’s Lace Museum on Rua de São Bento.
Nearby. The nearby resort town of Póvoa de Varzim (just 3 km to the north) offers sandy beaches and a pulsating night-life.
10 km northeast of Vila do Conde, the 13th century church of São Pedro de Rates boasts a magnificent rose window and some gracefully sculpted statues of saints.
Close by at Rio Mau, the church of São Cristóvão de Rio Mau was finished in 1151.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
| © 2007 Maisturismo |
