Vila Praia de Ancora

Vila Praia de Âncora is a town in the municipality of Viana do Castelo, situated on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Âncora river. The town has a dual character as both a working fishing port and a coastal resort, with a long sandy beach, a fish market supplied by the local fleet, and a promenade along the shore.

At the northern headland of the town stands the Forte do Cão, a small coastal fortress whose name means Fort of the Dog, built to guard the coastline. The headland offers views northward along the coast toward Moledo and the Minho river.

The coastal Camino Português passes directly through Vila Praia de Âncora, making it a well-served rest stop on the final stretch of the Portuguese coast before the Minho river and the Spanish border.