t The striking Templo do Sagrado Coração de Jesus atop Monte de Santa Luzia
D1 £ Largo da Estação n Viana Welcome Centre, Praça do Eixo-Atlântico; 258 098 415; www.portoenorte.pt
With winding streets and intimate squares, Viana do Castelo is an appealing destination. Both a busy fishing port and holiday resort, the town is also the capital of Minho folk culture, playing host to lively festivals and supporting a thriving handicrafts industry. The main attraction in Viana do Castelo, however, is Monte de Santa Luzia, whose peak overlooks the town.
Experience Minho
t The striking Templo do Sagrado Coração de Jesus atop Monte de Santa Luzia
Viana do Castelo lies in a beautiful setting on the Lima estuary. This 13th-century town gained prominence as a fishing centre in the 1400s; later it provided ships and seafarers for the great maritime discoveries of the 16th century. From here, João Velho set off to explore the Congo, and João Álvares Fagundes charted the rich fishing grounds of Newfoundland. Wealth derived from trade with Europe and Brazil funded the town’s many opulent mansions built in Manueline, Renaissance and Baroque styles.
To enjoy exceptional views, take the zigzag road to Monte de Santa Luzia, 5 km (3 miles) north of the town centre, or save your legs by riding the funicular. Perched on the mountain is the Templo do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, an extravagant Neo-Byzantine basilica completed in 1926. The steep climb to the top of its graffitti-scrawled dome is rewarded by superb panoramas. Behind the church you can wander along woodland paths or visit the Pousada Monte de Santa Luzia.
Experience Minho
t On 23 August of each year, people process through the streets of Viana do Castelo during the Nossa Senhora da Agonia Festival.
Hidden Gem
Behind the Pousada Monte de Santa Luzia, at the top of the hill, you’ll find traces of a Celtiberian settlement (citânia), dating from the 4th century BC. Wander along the boardwalk, admiring the ancient stones.
The Templo do Sagrado Coração de Jesus was modelled on Paris’s Sacré Coeur.