Famous for the richness of its natural landscapes, the Alto Minho region also has a rich patrimonial and cultural heritage, considered unique in Portugal. If you love fortresses, castles forts, bridges, palaces, towers, palaces and manor houses; if you like visiting churches, chapels, monasteries and convents, this is the ideal tour for you!
City of Porto
9:00 am – pick-up at the hotel and departure to Viana do Castelo
6:00 pm – drop-off at your hotel in Porto
We start the tour in Viana do Castelo. One of the most beautiful cities in the North of Portugal, whose occupation dates back to the Mesolithic period, it is not lacking in attributes. With a relaxed lifestyle, considered by many to be a Cittaslow, the city emerges from within ancient walls, where its historic centre still remains today. This is where you’ll find the Cathedral, as well as several churches, which represent a fantastic crossroad of styles – from Renaissance, Manueline and Baroque, to Art Deco.
Internationally distinguished for its gold filigree, an art that it has cleverly kept alive over centuries of tradition, you can also visit the beautiful Museum of Costume in the city. Also noteworthy is the Gil Eannes Hospital Ship, a ship that keeps maritime history alive, which is part of the city’s heritage identity. To conclude the visit to the city, we suggest going up to the Santa Luzia Sanctuary. With a privileged location, at the top of the mountain with the same name, you can glimpse the city’s surrounding landscape. During the afternoon, we keep the bar high with a visit to two cities full of history – Ponte de Lima and Barcelos.
Let’s start with Ponte de Lima. Host of one of the most traditional pilgrimages in the country – Feiras Novas – Ponte de Lima is ideal for those who appreciate good Portuguese cuisine. But there’s more! The city is also famous for its beautiful medieval bridge, the Portuguese Toy Museum and for being part of the Portuguese route of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James). As the oldest village in Portugal, over the centuries Ponte de Lima has developed in a picturesque way, and maintains until today many buildings of historic interest, protected by ancient walls and towers.
We then head over to Barcelos. The Legend of the Barcelos Rooster states that his miraculous intervention saved the life of an innocent man. And since then, the Rooster has officially become one of the symbols of Portugal. But the truth is that the city of Barcelos has many other reasons worth visiting. Starting with its medieval historic centre and the traditional folkloric groups, which keep alive the enthusiasm for traditions that we, as Portuguese people, are very proud of.
This is, without a doubt, one of the Portuguese cities with the largest and richest immovable heritage in the country, housing eleven monuments of national importance. Its medieval historic centre offers visitors an authentic journey through time. If you schedule your tour for a Thursday, you can also visit one of the most beautiful and unusual national events – the Barcelos market.
