The Hidden Gem
If you are interested in a holiday destination with the beauty and facilities of Lisbon and Porto, but without the tourists, you simply have to visit Viana do Castelo. Here you can adore wild golden beaches for sunbathing or surfing, stunning architecture by important Portugese designers, numerous Renaissance, Baroque and Art Deco buildings, a lively main plaza and the river Lima. One of the first things you will notice arriving is probably the Santuario de Santa Luzia, with a beautiful dome from where you have a panoramic view of the city. When you wander around through the narrow streets, it does not really matter which way you go, as all the roads lead to the main plaza called Praça da República. Viana do Castelo also has very interesting museums, such as the Museu du Arte e Arqueologia, with numerous examples of the pottory of the city, or the ship Navio Gul Eanes.
