Private tours in Oporto & surroundings
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Program
Minho tour offers mountain ranges with breathless views in this land of dense vegetation and profound historic
wealth. Stare at manor-houses and mansions and enjoy the abundant gastronomy, light, acidulous wines (vinhos
verdes) and rich wines, and a variety of handicrafts that mingles the shine of the filigree with the colour of the local
embroideries. Throughout the region the rivers, waterfalls, vineyards and fertile plots combine with the ancestral
monuments in urban centres.
Viana do Castelo, charmingly situated at the mouth of the Rio Lima below Monte de Santa Luzia, is an important
harbor in the Costa Verde. Its attractive townscape and good beaches also make it popular with tourists.
Surrounded by verdant hills is probably best appreciated from atop the Monte de Santa Luzia. Just outside of the
town, the aforementioned Santa Luzia mount boasts not only an excellent miradouro, a viewpoint with some of
the best panoramic views in Portugal, but also a fairly modern basilica (the Santuario de Santa Luzia) and the
remains of a Celto-Iberian settlement.
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Viana do Castelo, with its many handsome Manueline and Renaissance mansions and palaces, with their ornate granite facades, recall the splendors of the
town's past, the Age of Discoveries. The most famous spots include: the elegant Praça da República with its unique arcaded building of the Igreja da
Misericórdia; the old town hall, the early 16th century Paço do Concelho, with its Gothic arches and Renaissance detail; the castle, Castelo de Santiago do
Barro also built in the 16th century; a 15th Century Cathedral that has a fortress-like feeling.
Largo 5 de Outubro on the Rio Lima, makes a good starting point for a tour round Viana do Castelo.
Ponte de Lima is one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal's northwest corner, the Alto Minho.
There are two plane tree lined walking streets along the Lima river, the Alameda de S. Joao, and the avenida D. Luis Felipe.
The town is named after the bridge which crosses the River Lima into the town. This historical bridge has 24 arches of which four on the south bank is the
original roman construction.
The town is overlooked by watch towers, built in the fourteenth century which, together with the whitewashed houses, make it an attractive town. Some
women still go down to the river to wash their clothes and hang them out on the river banks to dry.
The are many magnificent palaces and manor houses in the town. They have all been beautifully restored and add character and beauty to the area.
In Ponte de Lima you can buy embroidered linen, tin lamps, carved wooden furniture, blankets rugs and wickerwork, all of which is made locally. Also, the
local co-operative produces one of the best 'Vinho Verde' wines in Portugal.
Barcelos - Probably the most famous symbol of Portugal, the colourful ceramic cockerel has its origins in the pretty town of Barcelos. Apart from the
famous cock, another gem of Barcelos is the enormous weekly market held every Thursday in the Campo Da Republica. This open square in the centre of
the town is one of the largest of its kind in the country, and the market boasts a huge range of locally produced ceramics alongside other handcrafts and
local goods.
Other parts of interest in the town include the old Jewish quarter and the various streets lined with medieval and baroque houses.
The town houses a variety of monuments - notably, the Constables House, the Campo de Republica and a Museum of Arts and Handicrafts - and an
attractive riverside location; it's an enjoyable enough place to spend half a day wandering around.
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...The north and central regions of Portugal is where you'll more often find the real Portugal. In the very north the traditional way of life is
still followed by small communities up in the mountain regions. Minho is Portugal's greenest and most traditional province and also the
country's best-kept secret. It is often called 'Green Minho' because of its green forests and cultivated valleys. Small houses are dotted
around the lush landscape, surrounded by fields. Connecting these fields are granite set tracks which often have grape vines growing
overhead. Liberally scattered around are the great houses of the past, of which nearly all have been beautifully restored. Spectacular
rivers come into this region from Spain. The river valleys of this area of Portugal used to be the favourite place for the wealthy to build
their manor houses. The Minho is undoubtedly a source of water, where green fields and mountains are in evidence. Besides boasting the
great monuments associated with cities, Braga also has deep religious roots and we feel small in comparison to so much beauty. Another
great city is Guimarães, World Heritage and birthplace of the first King of Portugal...
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Viana do Castelo - King Afonso III of Portugal founded the town in 1253 in the name of Viana. In the 16th
century its port gained great importance as the one of the main ports from which Portuguese explorers set sail due
to the discoveries. The most remarkable buildings in the town are from this era. We can see superb Renaissance
buildings in the city historical centre. Its traditional folklore is among the richest in the country. Viana do Castelo
with its seducing landscapes is surrounded by the green mountains, where the sun rises, by the vivid blue
reflections of the Atlantic Ocean and by the serenity of the Lima River. For dazzling views it is worth climbing to
the top of the Monte de Santa Luzia (2 miles north of the city center).
Ponte de Lima - the town is named after the bridge which crosses the River Lima into the town. This historical
bridge has 24 arches of which four on the south bank is the original roman construction. The seat of the county,
Ponte de Lima is truly representative of the Minho region with its fine monuments, picturesque market and
magnificent palaces and manor houses in the town and surrounding area.
Barcelos - Probably the most famous symbol of Portugal, the colourful ceramic cockerel has its origins in the
pretty town of Barcelos where, according to local legend, it is reputed to have saved the life of a traveller wrongly
accused of theft by crowing his innocence. Apart from the famous cock, another gem of Barcelos is the enormous
weekly market held every Thursday in the Campo Da Republica. This open square in the centre of the town is
one of the largest of its kind in the country, and the market boasts a huge range of locally produced ceramics
alongside other handcrafts and local goods. Other parts of interest in the town include the old Jewish quarter and
the various streets lined with medieval and baroque houses.
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