Section 27 - Porto and the North

Porto (Gaia) / Vila do Conde

Section 30 marks the onset in Porto, Portugal’s second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This captivating city, nestled along the contours of the Douro River, boasts a heritage that seamlessly marries the antiquity of landmarks like the Cathedral, Clérigos Tower, São Francisco church, and São Bento Train Station, with the modernity showcased by architectural wonders such as Casa da Música and Serralves Museum.

Before embarking on your journey, relish a leisurely stroll through the expanse of the City Park, tracing its seafront, and savor the charm of the beaches and terraces near Foz. Here, seize the opportunity to indulge in the iconic francesinha, a gastronomic specialty that epitomizes Porto’s culinary scene.

Continuing your route, and just prior to reaching the culmination point in Vila do Conde, take in the splendor of the Vila do Conde Regional Protected Landscape.

As you arrive in the city of Vila do Conde, welcomes you a splendid view overlooking the Ave River. Here, an array of heritage sites awaits your exploration, including the São João Fort, a 16th century ship, the Mother Church of Vila do Conde, and the Aqueduct, each contributing to a treasure trove of historical significance. Outdoors, you’ll discover the allure of the beach and have the chance to amble through various parks and gardens.

In this municipality, the significance of traditional handicrafts is illuminated by the art of bobbin lace and the craftsmanship of the fisherman’s wool.

 

Photos:

Câmara Municipal do Porto; Visit Vila do Conde; João Paulo

Video:

Turismo Porto e Norte

Points of Interest

Heritage: 40
  • Photo: mapio.net

  • Photo: stayinporto.pt

  • Gaia Pier is nowadays transformed in a pleasant Tourist area, endowed with wonderful esplanades, restaurants and bars, with a great view over the Porto’s historic centre. This is one of the historic places of Gaia, a town that has developed due...

  • It was in this house belonging to the Portuguese crown since the 14th century that Prince Henry the Navigator was born.

    The building originates from the 14th century when the king Dom Afonso IV decided to erect the Customs House in Porto’s...

  • This museum is housed in a beautiful 18th century building, next to Porto cathedral, and displays the private collection of the Portuguese writer Guerra Junqueiro (1850-1923).

    It contains largely Portuguese furniture, the highlight of which...

  • Housed in a building designed by the architect José Carlos Loureiro, this museum has a collection of naturalist paintings from the late 19th/early 20th century, by artists such as Aurélia de Sousa, Sofia de Sousa, Marques de Oliveira, Silva Porto,...

  • Photo: publico.pt

  • Located in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula and stimulator of an innovative concept that reflects the importance of sport, leisure, welfare and deep respect for nature, the Douro Marina is much more than a recreational Harbour.

    Vila...

  • The Leça da Palmeira Fortress, also known as the Matosinhos Castle or the Fortress of Nossa Senhora das Neves (Our Lady of Purity), was built after Portugal regained independence in 1640. It belonged to a chain of coastal fortresses making up a line...

  • Photo: visitporto.travel

  • The Igreja da Trindade was built in the 19th century and is one of the most imposing churches in the city of Porto. It forms part of the complex of buildings that make up the hospital of the Third Order of the Holy Trinity, created in 1755 after the...

  • Church from the 14th c. in gothic style.

  • The Igreja de Santa Clara in Porto dates from the 18th century and is a fine example of the typical baroque style of northern Portugal, being particularly notable for the carved and gilded woodwork of Miguel Francisco da Silva.

    It belonged...

  • In 1596, a Benedictine monastery was founded in Porto, of which the Igreja de São Bento da Vitória formed part, although the church was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century and only solemnly inaugurated in 1707.

    It is a large and...

  • The Church of São Francisco was built in the 14th century, during the reign of King D. Fernando, on the site of a modest church pertaining to the order of Franciscan Friars who had established a presence in the city of Oporto in 1223.

    The...

  • Church from the 15th / 16th c. in manueline style.

  • This church belonged to the Collegiate Church of São Martinho de Cedofeita, which is known to have existed at least since the first quarter of the 13th century.

    Romanesque in style, it was built on the site of another church, founded in the...

  • Church from the 16th / 17th c. in mannerist style.

  • Genuine baroque work by Nicolau Nasoni, an ex-libris monument of the city of Porto.

    The Church of Clérigos (Ecclesiastics) is a genuine baroque masterpiece dating from the mid-18th century. It was designed by Nicolau Nasoni, an architect...

  • Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

  • Photo: laparola.com.br

  • The Porto Atlântico Marina, situated at Leça da Palmeira in the borough of Matosinhos, serves Portugal's second largest city, Porto, which is a pleasant 10-kilometre tram ride away along the seafront and river bank.
    It has 240 berths for yachts...

  • Photo: www.europeanbestdestinations.com

  • Part of the area classified by UNESCO as World Heritage in December 1996, the Monastery of Serra do Pilar is the architectural landmark of Gaia. The interesting church and cloisters are laid out according to a circular design unique in...

  • Part of the area classified by UNESCO as World Heritage in December 1996, the Monastery of Serra do Pilar is the architectural landmark of Gaia. The interesting church and cloisters are laid out according to a circular design unique in...

  • Photo: feriasemportugal.com

  • The former Quinta de Santiago estate was built in 1896 as the summer residence of the Santiago de Carvalho e Sousa family. It is an interesting building with revivalist elements, designed by the Italian Nicola Bigaglia, that provides an excellent...

  • Traditional lacework is an important part of the historical heritage of Vila do Conde. The museum contains some extremely beautiful examples of it, some from the School of Lacemaking and competitions, among other initiatives. It also has an...

  • The sixteenth century Portuguese ship (Nau Quinhentista)  was a round vessel and high board. In order to show the complexity of organizing the trips, the Nau Quinhentista presents the rooms of some of the crew, as well as their own crew members...

  • Built in the 18th century, the Padrão do Bom Jesus (the Bom Jesus Marker Stone), also known as the Statue to the Lord of the Sand or Our Lord of Padrão, is the physical manifestation of a local belief.

    It is told that the Lord of...

  • The Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange) is one of the most important historic monuments in Porto and one of the sights that must definitely be on the list of all visitors to the city.

    It was built in the second half of the 19th century in...

  • The Leça da Palmeira beach has one of the largest stretches of sand to be found in the North of Portugal. It has been a popular destination since the very beginning of the 20th century when the English community living in Oporto adopted it as their...

  • The Sanctuary of Senhor Bom Jesus or the Senhor de (Lord of) Matosinhos is both the city's most outstanding monument and its parish church. The church houses the statue of Bom Jesus transferred here in the 16th century from the now disappeared...

Beach: 30 Heritage: 40 Beach: 30 Information: 10 Bike Shops: 18 Safe Bike Parking: 1 Accommodation - Campsite: 4 Accommodation - Youth Hostels: 1 Transport - Train: 6 Transport - Boat: 2

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Section 27

Porto (Gaia) / Vila do Conde: 35

  • Elevation
  • Heritage
  • Beach
  • Information
  • Bike Shops
  • Safe Bike Parking
  • Accommodation - Campsite
  • Accommodation - Youth Hostels
  • Transport - Train
  • Transport - Boat