Viana do Castelo
The 18th-century Palacete Barbosa Maciel bears witness to Viana’s affluent past. It houses this impressive collection of 17th- and 18th-century ceramics …
Must-see attractions in The Minho
Viana do Castelo
This small five-room museum devoted to chocolate is fun and interactive, treating you to tidbits of facts and curiosities, but it's also often packed with…
Lagoas de Bertiandos e São Pedro de Arcos
The Minho
This 350-hectare nature reserve is set in a wildlife-rich humid zone just north of the Rio Lima. There’s a wildlife interpretative centre and eight hiking…
Viana do Castelo
You can still scoot around the ramparts of this squat castle, a short walk west of the centre, which began in the 15th century as a smallish fort. It was…
Viana do Castelo
This attractive museum houses the traditional wear used for farming, fishing and seaweed harvesting in centuries past. You’ll see costumes worn during the…
The Minho
This spiffy new museum in a beautiful old stone building on Monção's main square chronicles the history and production of Alvarinho wine through photos…
The Minho
Two crenellated towers (part of the fortifications made in the 14th century) face the river at the end of Rua Cardeal Saraiva. The Torre da Cadeia Velha…
Guimarães
Built around the serene Romanesque cloister of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, this museum has an excellent collection of ecclesiastical art and…
Viana do Castelo
Behind the Pousada do Monte de Santa Luzia are these ruins of a Celtiberian citânia (fortified village) from around the 4th century BC. You’ll see the…
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês
Just downhill from Montalegre's castle, this museum hosts exhibits that showcase regional history, rural traditions and folklore. There are also exhibits…
The Minho
The Museu da Cultura Castreja has important artefacts from various sites, housed in Sarmento’s 18th- and 19th-century manor house. It’s about 2km back…
Guimarães
This 13th-century church has a brilliantly gilded and ornamented baroque interior, along with a lovely Renaissance cloister and 18th-century azulejos …
Termas Romanas do Alto da Cividade
Braga
These ruins of an extensive bathing complex – with an attached theatre – dating from the 2nd century AD, were probably abandoned in the 5th century. See…
Braga
This 17th-century square has narrow paths picking their way through a sea of flowers and topiary. On sunny days the adjacent pedestrianised Rua Justino…
Braga
With its toothy crenellated walls forming a dramatic counterpoint to the greenery of the neighbouring Jardim de Santa Bárbara, this former Archbishop’s…
Braga
In a beautifully minimalist medieval stone tower, outfitted tastefully with steel and wood stairs, this museum shows off impeccably lit, international…
Guimarães
Guimarães’ 14th-century former town hall sits above an arcaded portico providing a most graceful communication between cosy Largo da Oliveira and the more…
Braga
The square-shaped, crenellated tower behind the cafes on Praça da República is the walled-up Torre de Menagem, which is all that survives of a fortified…
Igreja de Santa Maria dos Anjos
The Minho
Dating from 1276, this now-decrepit Romanesque parish church inside the fortaleza has a tiny chapel at the back with Romano-Gothic inscriptions on the…
The Minho
Opposite the post office, the Casa da Eira has a handsome Manueline window somewhat marred by a horrendous corrugated tin room that peeks above the…
The Minho
Fragments of the town walls survive behind and between the Torre da Cadeia Velha and the Torre de São Paulo (part of the fortifications made in the 14th…
Miradouro Cascata de Pitões das Júnias
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês
A 217-step wooden staircase descends to this viewpoint looking across to the Cascata de Pitões das Júnias.
Braga
Framing the western entrance to Braga's historic centre, this baroque and neoclassical arch was designed by André Soares in the late 18th century.
Braga
Built in 1525, this pretty church in Braga's historic centre has an azulejo (tile)-clad facade flanked by a striking crenellated tower.
The Minho
This 14th-century edifice inside the fortaleza, with its neoclassical facade, is one of Valença's best preserved churches.
Braga
Built in the 17th century, Braga's Holy Cross Church features a mix of baroque and Mannerist architectural styles.
The Minho
This 1st-century Roman milestone inside the fortaleza is a remnant from the old Braga–Astorga road.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês
This 30m waterfall crashes down through a rocky cleft about 2km south of Pitões das Júnias.
Viana do Castelo
This elegant parish church – also known as the sé – dates from the 15th century, although it has since been through several reincarnations. Check out its…
The Minho
Behind Torre de São Paulo is the rather staid, mostly 15th-century igreja matriz (parish church), sporting a pretty Romanesque doorway.
Viana do Castelo
A Renaissance fountain built in 1554. The fountain is topped with Manueline motifs of an armillary sphere and the cross of the Order of Christ.
Viana do Castelo
The fortresslike Antigos Paços do Concelho is the old town hall from the 16th century. It sometimes hosts contemporary art exhibitions.
Cemitério de Pitões das Júnias
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês
Pitões das Júnias' village cemetery serves as a helpful landmark in locating the trailhead for the loop hike.
Viana do Castelo
Rebuilt in 1714, this church is adorned with some fine azulejos (hand-painted tiles).
