CENTER - Central Nacional do Turismo no Espaço Rural

Wherever you go, the sea is always present. Choose a route south or north and the river and the sea will be always there. South you find endless sandy beaches. Although the sea will not be our single destination as we will travel all over this territory, the S. Roque Mountain, the Lima Riverbanks, the Vila Franca lowlands...
Let us leave Viana through the ancient iron bridge towards Darque. If there is not much traffic, take time to appreciate the river and its waters. If the bridge swings, do not get frightened as the train may be as well getting through it.
Darque is near by with its beautiful Casa do Cais Novo. We may drive towards the sea, to Cabedelo, with its campings and an endless sandy beach.
But we may also try to follow other directions, such as that to Anha, to admire its Paço. Situated out of the main road, presents its chapel quite separated from the main house – almost leading us to suppose that it was later rebuilt in a different place. In fact, its façade, with a large veranda, is a century older than its temple dedicated to Santo António.
This chapel was built in 1625, according to the orders of João da Gorreta, who knew how to choose the artists. Regrettable is the fact that the original Manueline altarpiece, with woodcarving instead of paintings and with deeply carve columns has been extremely painted new. It is fine candlesticks with the shape of angels, reminding the best pieces of Alcobaça Monastery, also need urgent repair work.
From this place we may drive on towards Amorosa, a fashionable beach, in spite of being sometimes too windy. Or try to get in S. Romão do Neiva Monastery, formerly from the Benedictine and presently private as it often happens in Portugal.
If we get into the church we will find out that its main altarpiece presents a woodcarving work of the transition period from Mannerism to Baroque. It was originally a work meant for the Tibães Monastery, the home of the Portuguese Benedictine Order, the wealthiest in the Entre Douro and Minho Region. In the middle of the decade of 1750 it was transferred to this temple of S. Romão, as it had been replaced by other.. In the monks’ area, presently private, there is evidence that this was probably one of the less wealthy convents, as its cloisters were never finished..
The Castelo do Neiva beach, with its seaweed gathers, wearing a Roman costume, invites us in the Summer. And so does Monte Castelo. But let us follow now towards Alvarães, a parish famous for its ceramic factories.
The church, deeply rebuilt in 1929, looks modern. However, its interior still keeps the ancient altarpieces, among which we point out the one at the main-chapel from the national period and that of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte, at the body of the nave, from the same period, but that evidences a change in trends and also a good quality “Lamentação da Virgem”, though inferior to the one we found in Correlhã.
Vila do Punhe is not far. And here we should admire the cathedral, similar to the Tibães Monastery. It is a large temple with a Latine cross, a rococo altarpiece, that according to an ancient parish notary “caused general sensation and surprise”. When we look at it, we agree with these words. I am only surprised not to have found it before in any Portuguese Art History book.
Do not leave the place without admiring the church body and the two altarpieces, from the same period, though not of the same quality. Next to it is the Nossa Sra. das Neves Chapel, where one of the most important religious festivities of the Alto Minho takes place (5th August). Only surpassed in the municipality by that of Sra. da Agonia. Its wooden frameworks for carrying statues of saints in processions cause great surprise as well as the performance of the play “Auto da Floripes”, a medieval play, that tells us the story of the fight between Charles the Great and the Turkish.