Full-Day Private Tour of Unexplored North of Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Trip Type: Full-day Tours
Duration: 9 hours
After pick-up up from your hotel, explore the unexplored North of Portugal: Leca do Balio, Vila do Conde and Viana do Castelo. This tour includes visits to see: Leca do Balio’s Church, Santa Clara’s Convent and
Church, panoramic vue to Vila do Conde, Santa Clara’s Aqueduct, Our Lady
of Encarnaçao Church,16th Century’s Watermill, Old Town
Hall, Pillory, Igreja Street, Royal Customs, Replica of 16th century’s Carrack and Our Lady of Socorro Chapel (Vila do Conde), House of Arches,
Lunas Mansion, House of the Old Hospital, House of the Caravel,
Hospital Velho Lane, Costa Barros Mansion, Misericordia House of
Balconies, old Town Hall, Pinto & Sottomayor Mansion, Carreira and
Alpuim Palaces, Basilica of Saint Luzia and panoramic view of Viana do
Castelo, among others.
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After pick-up up from your hotel, explore the unexplored North of Portugal: Leca do Balio, Vila do Conde and Viana do Castelo. This tour includes visits to see: Leca do Balio’s Church, Santa Clara’s Convent and
Church, panoramic vue to Vila do Conde, Santa Clara’s Aqueduct, Our Lady
of Encarnaçao Church,16th Century’s Watermill, Old Town
Hall, Pillory, Igreja Street, Royal Customs, Replica of 16th century’s Carrack and Our Lady of Socorro Chapel (Vila do Conde), House of Arches,
Lunas Mansion, House of the Old Hospital, House of the Caravel,
Hospital Velho Lane, Costa Barros Mansion, Misericordia House of
Balconies, old Town Hall, Pinto & Sottomayor Mansion, Carreira and
Alpuim Palaces, Basilica of Saint Luzia and panoramic view of Viana do
Castelo, among others.
LEÇA DO BALIO
The Monastery of Leça do Balio was founded in the 10th century. With its vast territory, it was part of the Portucalense County, predecessor of the Kingdom of Portugal. For centuries, this monastery welcomed pilgrims walking the Way of Saint James. Later, in the 12th century, the monastery was donated to the Order of Saint John – the “Hospitallers” – which would be the first military order on Portuguese soil. This order will then embrace the mission of reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.
VILA DO CONDE
Its existence is prior to the Kingdom of Portugal, founded in the 12th century, but its golden era was the 16th century along with the Portuguese discoveries. Vila do Conde benefited from its geographical position, functioning as a stopping point for ships coming from the north of Europe and from the Mediterranean, and later from Brazil, Africa and Far East, developing trade, shipbuilding and navigation. It is famous for its emblematic convent – Santa Clara’s Convent – founded in the early 14th century (one of the richest of the Iberian Peninsula). It was probably the most controversial convent of all time in the all country. Its nuns went down in history for their power, insubordination, boldness and promiscuity. Vila do Conde is also known for its Manueline style’s buildings and replica of 16th century’s carrack.
VIANA DO CASTELO
Many man of the sea lived during the Portuguese discoveries in Viana do Castelo – navigators, merchants, sailors and even pirates. Some with controversial personalities … but all fearless! Some were even noblemen, the best gentry who fought the Moors in Africa and populated Brazil.
Thus, the best built heritage of Viana do Castelo reveals the uniqueness and richness of its bourgeoisie with noble background and the cosmopolitanism of its traveled people and its communities of foreigner residents who wanted to participate in the prosperity of the discoveries. Viana do Castelo also displays the so-called Portuguese style, the Manueline, characterized by its nationalist, naturalistic and fantastic elements.
The Monastery of Leça do Balio was founded in the 10th century. With its vast territory, it was part of the Portucalense County, predecessor of the Kingdom of Portugal. For centuries, this monastery welcomed pilgrims walking the Way of Saint James. Later, in the 12th century, the monastery was donated to the Order of Saint John – the “Hospitallers” – which would be the first military order on Portuguese soil. This order will then embrace the mission of reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.
VILA DO CONDE
Its existence is prior to the Kingdom of Portugal, founded in the 12th century, but its golden era was the 16th century along with the Portuguese discoveries. Vila do Conde benefited from its geographical position, functioning as a stopping point for ships coming from the north of Europe and from the Mediterranean, and later from Brazil, Africa and Far East, developing trade, shipbuilding and navigation. It is famous for its emblematic convent – Santa Clara’s Convent – founded in the early 14th century (one of the richest of the Iberian Peninsula). It was probably the most controversial convent of all time in the all country. Its nuns went down in history for their power, insubordination, boldness and promiscuity. Vila do Conde is also known for its Manueline style’s buildings and replica of 16th century’s carrack.
VIANA DO CASTELO
Many man of the sea lived during the Portuguese discoveries in Viana do Castelo – navigators, merchants, sailors and even pirates. Some with controversial personalities … but all fearless! Some were even noblemen, the best gentry who fought the Moors in Africa and populated Brazil.
Thus, the best built heritage of Viana do Castelo reveals the uniqueness and richness of its bourgeoisie with noble background and the cosmopolitanism of its traveled people and its communities of foreigner residents who wanted to participate in the prosperity of the discoveries. Viana do Castelo also displays the so-called Portuguese style, the Manueline, characterized by its nationalist, naturalistic and fantastic elements.
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