Viana do Castelo is a historic city and former port on Portugal's Atlantic coast. Its most important attraction is the Sanctuary of Santa Luzia standing on the hill, which is also a great vantage point on the surrounding area.
Despite its seaside location and nice beaches, Viana do Castelo is not very popular with those who like a seaside holiday. This is due to capricious weather, strong winds and relatively low temperatures even in the middle of summer. The nearby beaches are perfect for surfing and other water sports.
The city has its roots in Roman times. At that time, a settlement and a military fort were built on the Santa Luzia hill. Today, the remains of the ancient settlement of Citania Santa Luzia are open to the public.
The official date of founding Viana do Castelo is considered to be 1253, while it flourished most at the time of great geographical discoveries. At that time, there were shipyards where deep-sea ships were built and a commercial port, which was one of the main centers of wine trade. Over time, its importance decreased in favor of the nearby Porto.
The old buildings with tenement houses and a few valuable churches have survived in the city. The oldest of them is the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of Viana do Castelo, the interior of which is decorated with baroque altars. In addition, in the Old Town you can see the 16th century, the Church of São Domingos, the baroque Chapel of Malheiras and many old houses. The image is complemented by the fortifications in the form of the Santiago da Barra Fort and the Areosa Fortress.
There are also many museums, the most important of which are the historic hospital ship, mooring at the quay and turned into a museum, the Gil Eannes Foundation, the Costume Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts.
On the hill above the city rises the neo-Romanesque Sanctuary of Santa Luzia, modeled on the Paris basilica Sacre Coeur. You can enter it via numerous walking paths through the Park Monte de Santa Luzia or take the municipal elevator Santa Luzia. From the top there is a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
