Things to see and do Porto And North

Mount Santa Luzia dominates the city. On top of this mountain is the Basilica of Santa Lucia, a big grey neo-Byzantine cake from the beginning of the century which looks like the Sacred Heart of Montmartre, only smaller. Beautiful road to reach it, intimate and lined with pines and eucalyptus, a delight of smells and visions! The panorama is superb, with Viana do Castelo but especially in the distance and so close at the same time, the ocean and the sandy beaches. Access possible on foot, by car or by cable car.

The road to Gerês Campo offers beautiful scenery on the Caniçada dam. The Junceda lookout is also a fabulous view of the Gerês Valley.

The oldest city hotel in the country (xii). The basement is occupied by a former water tank that fed the inhabitants during the wars with Spain. You can also open the doors of the church Santa Maria, which has a ceiling of the th, painted in trompe and representing l'Assomption.

This magnificent medieval square is the heart of the city centre. It is connected to the Praça Santiago by the arcades of the old town hall, which was built at the end of the 14th century by João I and extensively remodelled in the early 17th century. This square also includes the Parão do Salado, in front of the church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveria. The Gothic building was erected during the reign of Afonso IV to commemorate the Battle of Salado in 1340. In the centre, several cafés offer pleasant terraces. In the evening, the atmosphere is lively with students.

Very nice excursion to pass through Confluent de Caniçada (N 308) and then by Gerês (very tourist resort), by Geira (remains of the Roman track that connected Braga to Astorga). Then you can go to the dam of Vilarinho das Furnas and continue to Portela do Homem, a border pass with Spain.

This unmissable house, founded by Antonio Alves Cálem in 1859, opens the doors of its historic cellars for an instructive visit, which explains all the secrets of Port wine making followed by a multimedia tour. The tour remains much the same as in other wine houses, but wine lovers will not complain. The schedules of the visits in French are available at the reception. Of course, tasting of red and white port at the end of the visit. The ruby port is fantastic. What will be your favorite?

Built in 1401, but never inhabited, the palace first surprises by its many rooms in rows, its chandeliers and its huge tapestries on the walls. Four copies of Pastrana are remarkable: those telling of the Portuguese conquests in North Africa, and those of Flemish origin executed by Rubens. On the roof of the building, strange very tall cylindrical red brick chimneys reflect the influence of the seigneurial architecture, unique in the Iberian Peninsula.

You will not forget to take the free monthly Braga Cultural with its Cultural Agenda.

Instead, we should talk about the dungeon, because it is all that remains of this th century castle, which was used as a residence for the first duke of Bragança. Beautiful view across the region.

In the fortress dungeon, the Military Museum fills several small halls on three levels. Those who, in their childhood, loved the novels of Cape and sword will appreciate the collections of white arms and armor from the th to the th century. A steep staircase leads you to the top of the castle. Grandiose!