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We've compiled the best of the best in Viana do Castelo - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Sitting high atop a wooded hill, this white granite-domed basilica is one of the most beautiful in Portugal. A funicular railway (€2, return ticket €3) can carry you up, or you can take the 2-km (1-mile) footpath that winds its way through the trees. The views from the basilica steps are magnificent, and a staircase to the side allows access to the very top of the dome (for €2) for some extraordinary coastal vistas.
The castle-like ramparts of this 16th-century fortification are what added the words do Castelo to the town's name, as well as protecting it against attack from pirates eager to share in its wealth. It was completed during the reign of Dom Manuel I, which is why architectural details such as the Roqueta Tower are Manueline in style. These days the massive structure is used for more peaceful purposes, hosting a hospitality school and a branch of the regional tourist board. A large market is held outside the castle walls every Friday.
A 10-minute walk west from the Praça da República takes you to the impressive mansion that houses the beautiful Museu de Artes Decorativas. The early-18th-century interior has been carefully preserved, including some lovely tile panels. The collection of 17th-century ceramics and ornate period furniture shows how wealthy many of Viana's merchants were.
Viana is known for its colorful traditional outfits, making the Costume Museum an important city landmark. Displays show how colors and patterns vary, even from village to village, as well as how the garments are made by hand. A separate room showcases the rich regional tradition of working in precious metals. The museum shop is an excellent place to pick up jewelry, traditional embroidery, and other craft items.
The town's best face is presented in the old streets that radiate from the Praça da República. The most striking building here is the Casa da Misericórdia, an 18th-century almshouse, whose two upper stories are supported, unusually, by tall caryatids (carved, draped female figures). The square's stone fountain, also Renaissance in style, harmonizes perfectly with the surrounding buildings, which include the restored town hall and its lofty arcades.
