Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Viana do Castelo is the capital of the Viana do Castelo district and a municipality of the Alto Minho (85 778 inhabitants · 319 km²), at the mouth of the Lima on the Atlantic coast of northern Portugal. The city lies between the river and the hill of Santa Luzia, with a historic centre of the 15th and 16th centuries and a coast of beaches north and south of the river mouth.

The history of Viana do Castelo has its own page.

Beaches in Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo has 13 bathing areas on the national register, on the coast north and south of the Lima.

Monuments in Viana do Castelo

• Santa Luzia: the hill above the city, with the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the funicular and the Iron Age hillfort.
• Fort of Santiago da Barra: the 16th-century fort at the river mouth.
• Eiffel Bridge: the iron road and rail bridge of 1878 over the Lima.
• Praça da República: the main square, with the fountain of 1559 and the Misericórdia.

Museums and culture in Viana do Castelo

• Gil Eannes: the hospital ship of the cod fleet, built in Viana in 1955 and now a museum.
• Viana Costume Museum: the museum of the costumes of Viana and the Alto Minho.
• Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Agonia: the festivities of August, with the sea procession and the costumes of Viana.

Nature in Viana do Castelo

• Lima estuary: the river mouth between the city and Darque.
• Serra de Arga: the granite range in the north-east of the municipality.

Marinas in Viana do Castelo

Leisure in Viana do Castelo

• City visits: Visiting Viana do Castelo covers transport, the historic centre, the beaches, the festivities and the food.
• In the district: the Peneda-Gerês National Park in the mountains of the east, and the towns of Ponte de Lima, Caminha and Valença.

Parishes of Viana do Castelo

• Viana do Castelo (Santa Maria Maior e Monserrate) e Meadela (25 157 inhabitants · 14 km²): the city parish, with the historic centre, the riverside and the hill of Santa Luzia.
• Afife (1 519 inhabitants · 13 km²): a coastal parish in the north of the municipality, with Afife beach.
• Alvarães (2 462 inhabitants · 9 km²)
• Amonde (231 inhabitants · 6 km²)
• Anha (2 257 inhabitants · 9 km²)
• Areosa (4 698 inhabitants · 14 km²)
• Barroselas (4 000 inhabitants · 7 km²)
• Cardielos (1 000 inhabitants · 4 km²)
• Carreço (1 737 inhabitants · 14 km²): a coastal parish with Carreço beach and the Montedor lighthouse.
• Carvoeiro (978 inhabitants · 12 km²)
• Castelo do Neiva (2 719 inhabitants · 7 km²): the southernmost coastal parish, with the Pedra Alta beach.
• Chafé (3 447 inhabitants · 8 km²)
• Darque (8 002 inhabitants · 9 km²): the parish on the south bank of the Lima facing the city, with Cabedelo beach.
• Freixieiro de Soutelo (465 inhabitants · 12 km²)
• Geraz do Lima (3 044 inhabitants · 19 km²)
• Lanheses (1 517 inhabitants · 10 km²)
• Mazarefes (1 000 inhabitants · 4 km²)
• Montaria (450 inhabitants · 22 km²): a mountain parish on the slopes of the Serra de Arga.
• Mujães (1 422 inhabitants · 5 km²)
• Nogueira (1 433 inhabitants · 27 km²): the largest parish of the municipality by area.
• Outeiro (1 060 inhabitants · 19 km²)
• Perre (2 772 inhabitants · 13 km²)
• Santa Marta de Portuzelo (3 901 inhabitants · 7 km²)
• São Romão de Neiva (1 048 inhabitants · 7 km²)
• Serreleis (942 inhabitants · 3 km²)
• Subportela (2 250 inhabitants · 17 km²)
• Torre (1 092 inhabitants · 6 km²)
• Vila de Punhe (2 064 inhabitants · 6 km²)
• Vila Franca (1 686 inhabitants · 7 km²)
• Vila Fria (1 000 inhabitants · 6 km²)

Healthcare in Viana do Castelo

Guides to Viana do Castelo