Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Viana do Castelo
POP 15,600
The jewel of the Costa Verde, Viana do Castelo is blessed with both an appealing medieval
centre and lovely beaches just outside the city. The old quarters showcase leafy, 19th-cen-
tury boulevards and narrow lanes crowded with Manueline manors and rococo palaces. The
town's setting just by the Rio Lima estuary means that Viana do Castelo is only a short hop
from some excellent beaches, and also makes it a handy base for exploring the lower Lima
valley and the nearby Serra d'Arga mountain.
SURFING & KITESURFING IN MINHO
Praia do Cabedelo ( Click here ) is an excellent kitesurfing destination, with consistent on-shore wind year-round.
It's a great teaching site, but also fun for intermediate surfers thanks to the lagoonlike conditions created by the
southern headland and harbour breakwater, which is a full kilometre north. South of Cabedelo 17km, there's good
kiting and some traditional surfing at Esposende , but conditions are iffy.
Among the fine beaches strung north along the 25km of coast between Viana do Castelo and Caminha, Afife has
the best surf breaks, with waves topping out at 2m during peak swells. Four daily regional trains (€1.40, 13
minutes) make their way up the coast to Afife from Viana. Advanced kitesurfers will want to drive a bit further
north to Moledo where the wind and waves are at their fiercest and finest. For tips and gear rental, stop by Viana
Locals ( Click here ) at Praia do Cabedelo.
History
The remains of Celtic hill settlements on Monte de Santa Luzia, overlooking the contem-
porary town centre, and the name Viana - a nod to its Roman past when this once-humble
settlement was called Diana - convey Viana do Castelo's deep historical roots, while its
Manueline mansions and monasteries recall its 16th-century prosperity as a major cod-fish-
ing port. In fact, by the mid-17th century it had bloomed into Portugal's biggest overall
port, with merchants trading as far afield as Russia.
More riches arrived in the 18th century, with the advent of the Brazilian sugar and gold
trade. But with Brazil's independence and the rising importance of Porto, Viana's golden
age stuttered and faded. These days Viana earns much of its current living and reputation as
the Minho's favourite resort town.
 
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