Immerse yourself in the Atlantic soul of Vila do Conde, whose origins date back to the year 953 AD. Here, the past intertwines with the serenity of the present day.
Discover an authentic destination away from the crowds, where every street, monument and landscape tells centuries-old stories.
Our visit to Vila do Conde begins at the Monastery of Santa Clara (14th century), perched on a hilltop with a vantage point over the River Ave and the Atlantic Ocean.
We'll explore the riverside area where the Ave River marks the meeting point between the inland region and the Atlantic Ocean.
Visit the Shipbuilding Museum, housed in a former shipyard; the Nau Quinhentista, a faithful replica of a 16th-century ship; the Alfândega Régia, a former customs house where maritime trade was controlled and which is now a centre for interpreting the region's maritime history; Praça D. João II, dedicated to the Portuguese maritime discoveries; and the Chapel of Our Lady of Socorro, set beneath a bluff overlooking the Ave River. Inside the chapel, admire the 18th-century tiles depicting the life of Christ, as well as a Rococo-style altarpiece.
Stroll through the historic streets and alleyways, passing the Bobbin Lace Museum, dedicated to a centuries-old tradition passed down from mothers to daughters, until you reach Vila do Conde Town Hall, housed in a 16th-century building.
Continue your walk and visit the 18th-century Chapel of Our Lord of Agony; the Parish Church of São João Baptista, built in the 16th century; the House of Eça de Queiroz, a figure of Portuguese literary realism; the Vila do Conde Memory Centre, a cutting-edge museum and cultural space; and the Aqueduct, built between the 17th and 18th centuries to supply the Monastery of Santa Clara, where the tour ends.