The North region of Portugal boasts four UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Porto Ribeira, the Douro Valley, the rock paintings of Foz Côa valley and the historic centre of Guimarães. This region also has the highest concentration of accommodation in renovated manor houses (Solares), offering a unique experience.
Porto is a striking city that caters for all tastes. Its historic central area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, while the lively riverside district of Ribeira hosts markets by day and countless bars by night.
The city's highlights include the Casa da Música concert hall and the Serralves museum, both excellent examples of the bold architecture that has long been a Porto trademark. The Cathedral (Sé), the baroque Clérigos Church and the Igreja de São Francisco are all worth seeing, while on the south of the river, port lodges are open for tours.
While Porto is full of history and culture, there is plenty more of both in the towns and cities of the north. The aforementioned Guimarães is home to a 10th-century castle, Ducal Palace, and the Alberto Sampaio Museum.
Braga, photo by Região de Turismo Verde Minho
Braga, 13 miles north-west, has more than 30 churches and is famed for its Holy Week celebrations. Processions are held across the country on Palm Sunday and during Easter week, but none surpasses the Braga, when street-side alters are filled with flowers and lights. In Braga, the baroque-style Bom Jesus do Monte stands on a mountain, accessible by funicular railway for those who can't face the climb.
Further north, Viana do Castelo is the gem of the Minho region, with charming buildings and a pretty shoreline. In Trás-os-Montes, Bragança has a great citadel and a beautiful trompe d'oeil ceiling in the Renaissance Church of São Vicente.
During the summer months there are festivals throughout the region. The most well-known are São João, celebrated on the evening of 23rd June in Porto and Braga, and the three-day feast of Nossa Senhora da Agonia, in Viana do Castelo, which takes place during the second weekend of August. Modern day rock/pop festivals are held every year in Vilar de Mouros and Paredes de Coura in June and August.
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