Adeus Viana do Castelo

It was our last day in Viana do Castelo. We stayed much longer than we originally intended and we loved every minute  - this incredible little town has it all.

The town is  a mix of historic museums, buildings, churches and little winding lanes that open into quiet squares with convenient panaderia shops tempting you to the famed Pastel de nata. The streets are clean, mostly quiet,  there are  lovely trees and gardens and it has a relaxed pace of life.  The mountains hug the town and with the river and the sea there's any number of hikes or water sports to be had. It might be cold in winter but in spring it's perfect!

We timed it just right to visit the Igreja da Misericórdia de Viana do Castelo (or Casa das Varandas)  in the Praca de Republica. It was built in 1589 and as impressive as it is on the exterior ( see previous blog post pic),  the interior is pocket-rocket amazing with over the top renaissance style and  Italian and Flemish influences.

While the exterior boasts several floors and verandahs,  the interior felt  intimate, albeit with an abundance of opulent decoration. The beautiful blue and white glazed tiles,  so typically Portuguese,  and the ceiling frescos were breathtaking. 

Some areas were off limits but I managed a cheeky 'around the corner' glimpse. 

The detail in the  gilded carvings was stunning. They had several religious paintings on display too. 

The curator taking the €2.00 entry fee stated it was unquestionably one of the finest examples of Baroque style in the whole of Portugal. I believe him, we're so glad we got to see this highlight on our last day. 

To complement all the fabulous sightseeing Viana  has wonderful food options too. With the sea so close by and the verdant alluvial  fields alongside the banks of the Ria Lima - the local  restaurants make the most of all the fresh produce.  

We sampled a few portions of local clams and garlic olive bread  - it was all pretty good 👍. We'll miss the fabulous Avenida  Viana Boutique Suites, if you're ever in Viana book there, it's great.