Centro Histórico

Granite streets, Renaissance squares and pastelarias where the coffee is always ready.

Heart of town: Praça da República
Fountain: 1554
City since: 1848
Best explored: On foot

Place to see

The heart of Viana is the Praça da República, one of the finest squares in northern Portugal. Its stone fountain dates from 1554; around it stand the old town hall with its arches and the Misericórdia building, whose upper floors rest on carved stone figures.

From the square, narrow streets lead past manor houses, Manueline windows and the granite towers of the cathedral down to the river. On the riverside lies the Gil Eannes, a former hospital ship for the cod fishermen that you can now walk through.

Don't miss

1The Praça da República and its Renaissance fountain
2The Museu do Traje, all about Viana's costumes and gold
3The hospital ship Gil Eannes on the riverside
4A coffee and a pastry in one of the old pastelarias

Through the centuries

1258
King Afonso III grants a charter to the fishing town at the mouth of the Lima, then called Viana da Foz do Lima.
1554
The Renaissance fountain is placed in the main square, today's Praça da República.
1848
Queen Maria II makes Viana a city and adds "do Castelo" to its name.
1955
The hospital ship Gil Eannes is launched at the Viana shipyard; today it is a museum on the riverside.

Good to know

Most of the old town is pedestrian: park by the river and walk in.
Small shops often close for lunch and on Sunday afternoons.
The Gil Eannes and the Museu do Traje charge a small entry fee and have their own opening hours.