Viana do Castelo - Viana do Castelo visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Viana do Castelo' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Minho.

Viana do Castelo lies on the mouth of the Rio Lima river in in the Minho province of northern ccr16,Portugal, about 30km south of the Spanish border. This map shows 360° panoramas of some of the sights and attractions around the city. Viana do Castelo is surrounded by hills, and one of the best places to view the area from is the top of the dome of Santa Luzia Church. One of the highlights of the year is the Festas de Nossa Senhora de Agonia in late August.

Viana was founded by King Afonso III of Portugal in 1253 and has always had a close association with the sea. During the 15th Century a large number of Jews migrated to Viana, fleeing persecution in Spain. The city was for a while plagued with pirate raids and grew as an important departure point for various Portuguese exploration voyages. It was from here that adventurers like João Velho departed to chart the Congo. The port today is still active, with a thriving fishing industry and various tours available both along the Lima River and the coastline.

One of the highlights of visiting Vaina do Castelo is Praça da República, a central square surrounded by the unique, arcaded Igreja da Misericórdia building and the 16th Century 'Paço do Concelho', the old town hall. Within the square is the 15th Century Chafariz fountain. Also within the town is the 'Castelo de Santiago do Barro', the castle from which Viana derives the second part of it's name. It was built in the 16th Century to protect the town and port from pirates, and holds a market on the parapets on Fridays.

Various beaches stretch north of Viana, almost to the Spanish border, providing miles of unspoilt and relatively undeveloped coastline to explore and relax in. The city is surrounded by beautiful countryside, full of small, traditional villages, occasional working water mills, isolated chapels and waterfalls.

Viana do Castelo lies near to the IC1 road in Portugal, 31 km south of the Spanish border, 25km north of Esposende and 75km north of Porto. It is 26km west of Ponte de Lima (A27) and 57km northwest of Braga (IC14, IC1).