Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Like Valença do Minho to the west, Monção (mohng-
sowng
) was once an important for-
tification along the border with Spain. It's a modest but attractive historic centre, which
includes the remains of its 14th- century fortifications still watching over the river, that
sees far fewer visitors than Valença's. The town's big claim to fame is its fine
vinho verde,
with signs touting Monção as the cradle of the refreshing Alvarinho wine (Spain's Galicia
makes similar claims).
It is said that during a siege by Castilian soldiers in 1368, a local townswoman named
Deu-la-Deu Martins managed to scrabble together enough flour from starving citizens to
make a few loaves of bread, and in a brazen show of plenty tossed them to the enemy with
the message, 'if you need any more, just let us know'. The disheartened Spaniards imme-
diately withdrew to Spain.
From the bus station it's 600m east to the defunct train station, then another two blocks
north up Rua General Pimenta de Castro to the first of the town's two main squares, Praça
da República. Praça Deu-la-Deu and the heart of the old town lie just one block further.
Sights & Activities
Old Monção
The best part of Monção's old town is the utter lack of tourism. It's almost exclusively a
local scene in chestnut-shaded
Praça Deu-la-Deu
, where a hand-on-breast statue of its name-
sake tops a
fountain
and looks hungrily down over the surrounding cafes.
The
Senhora da Vista
bastion at the northern end offers a gentle view across the sinuous
Rio Minho into Spain. The
Capela da Misericórdia
at the square's southern end has a coffered
ceiling painted with cherubs.
East of the square is the snug, cobbled old quarter. Two blocks along Rua da Glória is
the pretty little Romanesque
igreja matriz
(parish church), where Deu-la-Deu is buried (look
for the stone-carved alcove to the left of the entrance).
NEIGHBOURHOOD
Palácio da Brejoeira
( 251 666 129;
www.palaciodabrejoeira.pt
;
Quinta da Brejoeira, Pinheiros; tours €3-7.50, wine tasting €2.50;
9.30am-noon & 2-5.30pm Tue-Sun)
On the N101 toward Arcos de Valdevez, this grand neoclassic-
al palace built in the early 19th century has been open to the public since 2010, even
though the current owner, a nonagenarian heir, still lives inside. Visits are by guided tour
only, which run every 30 minutes.
PALACE
