Viana do Castelo, Coastal municipality in northern Portugal
Viana do Castelo is a coastal city in northern Portugal where the Lima River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The old town features mansions from the 16th century with tiled facades and a street pattern that traces back to the medieval defensive lines.
The settlement received its first municipal charter in 1258 from King Afonso III under the name Viana da Foz do Lima. Trade with Brazil and northern Europe during the 16th century brought wealth that became visible in the construction of churches and palaces.
The Nossa Senhora da Agonia festival in August presents traditional gold filigree jewelry, regional costumes, and maritime processions that celebrate local traditions.
The city center is mostly walkable, with connections between the main squares through pedestrian zones. Regional trains run regularly toward Porto and to smaller towns along the coast and Lima valley.
The Santa Luzia hill, accessible by a historic funicular or through a stairway, provides a view over the river mouth and Atlantic coast reaching to Spain. The basilica there was begun in 1898 and completed only in the 1960s.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
