Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo is the capital of the Viana do Castelo district in northern Portugal, situated at the mouth of the Lima river on the Atlantic coast. The city has a layered historic centre built on commerce and craftsmanship, with a central Renaissance fountain and the Igreja Matriz, whose Manueline portal is one of the most elaborately carved in the Minho.

Dominating the hilltop above the city is the Basílica de Santa Luzia, a neo-Byzantine church completed in 1926 that is visible for miles along the coast and has become the defining silhouette of Viana. The city also maintains strong traditions of embroidery and folk costume, particularly the heavily gilded filigree gold jewellery worn at festivals.

For pilgrims on the coastal Camino Português, Viana do Castelo is a major stage with full services, offering the Lima river crossing and the ascent toward the Lima valley interior and the Spanish border.