Vila do Conde
Camino Portugues
Vila do Conde is the first town along the Coastal route that genuinely merits an extended visit. It's a popular destination among the Portuguese, though it's somewhat overshadowed by the larger Povoa de Varzim to the north.
The town's most striking feature is visible from a distance: the Aqueduct of Santa Clara, a 17th-century engineering marvel whose 999 arches carry water some 4 kilometers from a spring to the Convento de Santa Clara. The convent itself dates to the 14th century and sits high above the Rio Ave. Both the aqueduct and the convent are to your right after crossing the bridge into town.
In the town center, the Igreja Matriz is a handsome Manueline church built at the order of King Manuel I, who passed through Vila do Conde in 1502 on his own pilgrimage to Santiago. His visit left a lasting mark on the town's architecture. Down by the waterfront, the Forte de Sao Joao Baptista (also known as the Forte de Nossa Senhora da Assuncao) guards the river mouth -- it's a bit off the camino but falls along one of the waterfront alternatives.
Vila do Conde has a centuries-old tradition of bobbin lace, known as rendas de bilros. The craft still survives, and you can see lace-makers at work at the Museu das Rendas de Bilros near the center. The town also played a significant role in Portugal's Age of Discovery as a shipbuilding center -- a full-scale replica of a 16th-century nau is on display at the waterfront.
The Metro of Porto Line B (Linha da Póvoa) passes through Vila do Conde. To stop here, disembark at the Santa Clara station.
The Feira de Gastronomia runs during the third week of August -- plan on being hungry for nine days. The Feira Nacional de Artesanato, a well-known crafts fair, runs from the last week of July through the first week of August. Friday is market day, held next to the church.
Vila do Conde is among the oldest known settlements in Portugal, with archaeological discoveries dating back more than 100,000 years. More recently it was a seaport that played a critical role in Portugal's 16th-century Age of Discovery. King Manuel I passed through on his pilgrimage to Santiago in 1502, a visit that led to the construction of the Igreja Matriz and several other notable buildings. The town's shipyards built many of the vessels that carried Portuguese explorers to Africa, India, and Brazil.
From the Igreja Matriz you have two options, the one indicated by the signs takes you through the center of this large town and carries on straight past the church. It is well marked.
The other option is to follow along the Litoral route which is unmarked but easy enough to get to. Opposite the church (on your left as you approach the church) is a small plaza, cross it and follow to the right. Turn left on the second street, the Largo de Doutor Antonío José Almeida. This will take you down to the waterfront, where you turn right and follow the walk all the way to Povoa de Varzim. Just past the harbor the beach-front picks up, and it is here where the main route rejoins.
Accommodation in Vila do Conde.
| Cachinnans Hostel & Apartments 33+€ Booking.com |
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| Hi Vila Do Conde - Pousada De Juventude 24+*€ Booking.com |
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| Casa de Laura - VIla do Conde 20€ 25 |
| Albergue Santa Clara 10€ 25 |
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