Northern Portugal Tourist Information, a guide to the North of Portugal.

Northern Portugal Tourist Information - Portugal

Northern Portugal and the Costa Verde is a mix of historical beauty and fantastic scenery. In the north-western part of the country lies this land of dense vegetation and profound historic wealth. It was here that Portugal's first king, Dom Afonso Henriques, was born in the beginning of the 12th century, having then extended the kingdom to the south, in what was considered as one of the most heroic feats of the Christian Reconquest. The inheritance of a distant past is seen everywhere. The country's longest motorway (A1, from Lisbon to Oporto) goes up to Braga (A3), in the heart of Costa Verde. If you follow the coastline on the road from Vila do Conde to Valença, you will not miss the beautiful beaches, seaside resorts and enchanting villages such as Caminha and Vila Nova de Cerveira. Inland and worthwhile visiting is the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Throughout the region the rivers, waterfalls, vineyards and fertile plots combine with the ancestral monuments in urban centres.

Porto - The North's most important city lent its name to the famous wine and to Portugal. One must stroll around its typical quarters (especially the area on the waterside the "zona ribeirinha") and its bustling downtown. To visit: the Stock Exchange Palace, the Roman-Gothic Cathedral, the Church of Cedofeita (Romanesque), the Clérigos Tower (Oporto's ex-libris) and Church; the Church of São Francisco, of Romanesque origin and with its gilded carvings, and the Church of Carmo, with its tiled façades. Museums: Soares dos Reis, Casa de Serralves, Casa Museu de Guerra Junqueiro. One should not miss a visit to the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia and free tasting of the famous port wine.

Oporto - the capital of the country's northern regions, with its international airport, offers the delights of a riverside city as it is magnificently situated on the mouth of the Douro river, from where boats leave to sail up the beautiful river. Seaside Viana do Castelo, ecclesiastic Braga, and medieval Guimarães are but a few other examples of a happy alliance between popular heritage and cosmopolitan elegance.

Braga - Founded by the Celts in 300 B.C. and a Roman administrative centre in 27 B.C., Bracara Augusta, as the Romans named it, combines the religious importance with today's commercial and industrial prosperity. To visit: the Cathedral (12th-18th centuries), the Treasury and Sacred Art Museum; the Museum at the Biscainhos Palace; and the Dom Diogo de Sousa Museum. Also deserving to be visited are the churches of Misericórdia (Renaissance), Pópulo (17th-18th centuries) and of Nossa Senhora Branca (18th century). On the outskirts, 5 km away from the centre, stands the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, with its monumental Baroque staircase; the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Sameiro; the ancient Monastery of Tibães, dating back to the Suevian period and rebuilt in the 11th century, and the Church of São Frutuoso de Montélios (7th century Visigothic temple).

Braganca - Majestic city, with medieval castle and walls, amongst which is the Domus Municipalis, a unique example of civic Romanesque architecture. Special mention must be made to the Cathedral (16th century), Santa Maria Church, Casa da Misericórdia Chapel, Santa Clara Convent and Church (16th century), São Bento Convent and Church (17th-18th centuries), and the Abade de Baçal Museum. At the Railways Museum, 19th century locomotives and carriages.

Viana do Castelo - Spread along the north bank of the Lima estuary (where one can take trips on typical boats), this town is famous for its handicrafts and colourful regional costumes. Deserving special mention are the mother-church, the ancient Paços do Concelho (both Gothic), Casa da Misericórdia (Renaissance with a sacred art treasure), the medieval Casa dos Arcos, the Convent of Santa Ana (16th century), and the Regional Museum. Up above and dominating the city is the Sanctuary of Santa Luzia, with a fantastic view of Viana, the river and the ocean.

Vila Praia de Ancora - In the heart of the beautiful garden that is the Minho, the perfect setting between the sea, the countryside, the rivers and the mountains. The region has numerous megaliths, castles and fortresses.

Cabeceiras de Basto - contains various splendid manor houses, dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, and what is considered the best of the statues of the region, O Basto. Made of granite and representing the body of a warrior, it is assumed that it was built before the coming of the Romans; after the Napoleonic wars it gained, as a joke, the head of a French soldier. However, the main attraction of Cabeceiras de Basto is the ancient and splendid monastery of Refojos, with a dome that stands 33 metres (110 feet) high and statues of the Apostles and the archangel Michael.

Chaves - The 14th-century keep of Chaves castle overlooks the town's medieval square - Praça de Camões. Within the castle keep is a small military museum where suits of armour, uniforms and other regalia are on display. On the south side stands the parish church with its fine Romanesque portal. The Baroque Misericordia church opposite has an exquisite interior lined with 18th-century azulejo glazed tiles. A few minutes on foot from the city centre is one of the hottest springs in Europe. Water here bubbles up at a temperature of 73ºC (163º F). The spa's facilities attract both tourists and people seeking the treatment of rheumatism, kidney disfuntion and hypertension.

Freixo de Espada a Cinta - it is imperative to visit the Manueline Mother Church with its exquisite 16th-century portal which leads the visitor into a rich interior, ressembling a small version of the Jerónimos Monastery, at Lisbon. The panels of the altarpiece are attributed to the brilliant Grão Vasco (1475-1540) and include a beautiful "Annunciation". The pillory, also Manueline, is one of the best preserved and most interesting of the country, and the Miserichord Church is also worth admiring, with its Gothic niche over the main doorway.

Guimarães - Portugal's birthplace, with medieval castle and walls, houses a magnificently well preserved historic centre. In the cloisters of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira is the Alberto Sampaio Museum; in the cloister of São Domingos Convent is the Martins Sarmento Museum; and in the ancient Dominican Convent is the Sacred Art Museum. Also deserving special mention are the medieval palace of the Dukes of Bragança (15th century), the Church of São Miguel (Romanesque), the Church of Santos Passos (Baroque), and the Monastery of Santa Marinha da Costa (a pousada). Nearby lies the early settlement of Briteiros.

In the Costa Verde region, one finds all the delicious northern dishes as the "caldo verde", the codfish, pork filets ("rojões"), duck with rice, as well as other typical regional meals. In Viana do Castelo, the rice with codfish and the octopus "à Margarida da Praça" style. In Caminha, the steamed conger-eel, the whiting and the bream. In Paredes de Couro, the codfish "Miquelina" style;: in Monção, the roasted kid, the shad and the lamprey; in Melgaço, the smoked hams; in Oporto, the famous tripe. On the dessert side, one can relish the rich and varied pastries traditionally baked by the nuns - "S. Gonçalo" and "papos de anjo", the "doce de travessa", the "arroz doce" (sweet rice) and the "aletria", the "rabanadas", "sonhos" and "mexidos" (popovers and sweet dumplings), the delicious "pão de ló" and the egg yolk and almond paste based pastries. As for as drinks are concerned, the Port wines and the Vinhos Verde are a must.

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