Top Historic Sights in Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Explore the historic highlights of Viana do Castelo
Museu do Traje
Located in the historic centre of the city, the former Bank of Portugal building has housed the Costume Museum since 2004. Here you can appreciate the ethnographic wealth of the traditional costumes of Viana. The exhibits also include the tools used to produce the handmade garments, alongside the permanent exhibitions A lã e o linho no traje do Alto Minho (Wool and linen in Alto Minho garments), Traje à Vianesa (Viana†...
Founded: 2004 |
Location:
Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Viana do Castelo Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Mary the Great is a catholic church and fortress built in the fifteenth century, which preserves a Romanesque appearance. Its facade is flanked by two large towers topped by battlements and highlights its beautiful Gothic portal with archivolts with sculpted scenes from the Passion of Christ and sculptures of the Apostles. It is a Romanesque church with a Latin cross and inside is separated by thr ...
Founded: 1400 |
Location:
Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Santuário de Santa Luzia
Building work of Santuário de Santa Luzia started in 1904, and lasted until 1959. It is the work of architect Miguel Ventura Terra, who was succeeded by Miguel Nogueira, after the death of his master in 1919. Architecturally, it is of Romanesque-Byzantine inspiration, fitting into the revivalist architecture that marked the turn of the century. Its imposing rose windows are the largest in the Iberian Peninsula and the s ...
Founded: 1904-1959 |
Location:
Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Church of Sâo Domingos
Church of Sâo Domingos (1576) has its origins in the convent of Santa Cruz founded by the Dominican Friar Bartolomeu dos Mártires (1514-1590), once the archbishop of Braga. Bartolomeu dos Mártires is a famous prelate who took part in the Council of Trent (1545-1563) that opposed the 'heresies' of the Protestant Reformation and his statue, riding a donkey, stands in the square outside the church. In 1582, h ...
Founded: 1576 |
Location:
Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Santiago da Barra Fortress
Located next to the sea, it is believed that the first fortification sited on the bar of the River Lima estuary dates from the reign of King Afonso III (13th century). However, the earliest certain date is the 15th century, when a fortress was built there that would have been completed in the following century, in the reign of King Manuel I. This is indicated by various Manueline architectural features, notably the ' ...
Founded: 16th century |
Location:
Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Citânia de Santa Luzia
The Citânia de Santa Luzia (also known as the Old City of Santa Luzia) is an archaeological site of the Castro culture. Its construction dates from the Iron Age, and it shows evidence of occupation during the Roman period. The Castro was first dug in 1876 by Joaquim Possidonio Narciso da Silva. Only about one third of the structures have been dug, with the remaining part being under or destroyed during the construction o ...
Founded: 8th century BCE |
Location:
Viana do Castelo, Portugal