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Beautiful beaches, outstanding food and relaxed ambience
- Vila do Conde is situated at the mouth of the Ave River, and was historically a centre of shipbuilding and seafaring. Today, the main industry is tourism, and the town is a favourite with the Portuguese, who are drawn by the beautiful beaches, outstanding food and relaxed ambience.
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Vila do Conde is located in the north-west coast of Portugal, surrounded by the municipalities of Vila Nova de Famalicão Municipality (east), Maia (southeast), Trofa (southeast), Matosinhos (south) and Póvoa de Varzim (north).
May 28, 2024 · Visit Vila do Conde, a former maritime centre in the north of Portugal famous for its 14th-century convent and lace-making tradition.
- Igreja Matriz de São João Baptista. The Igreja Matriz de São João Baptista in Vila do Conde is one of the most significant historical and architectural landmarks in the town.
- Igreja e Mosteiro de Santa Clara. The Igreja e Mosteiro de Santa Clara in Vila do Conde is an exquisite architectural complex that holds significant historical importance.
- Santa Clara Aqueduct. The Santa Clara Aqueduct in Vila do Conde is a monumental structure that stands as a testament to the engineering prowess of the 18th century.
- Nau Quinhentista. The Nau Quinhentista is a full-scale replica of a 16th-century Portuguese ship, located in Vila do Conde, Portugal. This impressive vessel serves as a living museum and an emblem of the town’s rich maritime history.
- Alfândega Régia – Museu de Construção Naval
- Nau Quinhentista
- Igreja Matriz
- Convento de Santa Clara
- Santa Clara Aqueduct
- Praia Azul
- Capela de Nossa Senhora Da Guia
- Forte de São João Baptista
- Museu Das Rendas de Bilros
- Praia Do Forno
In the 15th-century Royal Customs House on the quayside is a museum charting the shipbuilding trade that claimed the entire Ave Riverside through the Early Modern Age and up to the 20th century. With model boats, tools and tableaux the museum handles three different fields. First you’ll delve into the Portuguese Age of Discovery, when the likes of ...
Moored at the Cais da Alfandega on the River Ave is a replica of a 16th-century carrack, exactly the kind of ship that would have been built at Vila do Conde’s dockyards at the time. This vessel was launched in 2007 using ancestral carpentry and rope-making skills . One of the many interesting things about this vessel is that it epitomises a phase ...
This marvellous church went up in a short amount of time, from 1496 to 1518. At this time Portuguese churches and monasteries were embellished with rich sculpture in the Manueline style, fusing Late Gothic with Spanish Plateresque. This church is a shining example, as you’ll tell from the main portal, which is laden with intricate carving. These ar...
This commanding ensemble stands on a small rise above the Rio Ave and was once one of the richest convents in Portugal. The convent dates to the 14th century, and the Gothic church here is from that first phase. The main convent building is newer and was constructed in the 18th century, now housing Vila do Conde’s municipal services. Your attention...
Befitting its power the Convent of Santa Clara once drew a lot of water. Quite literally in fact, as in 1626 it initiated a giant project to improve its water supply. Channelling water down from the high ground in Terroso this structure stretched for four kilometres and needed almost 90 years to complete. One reason it took so long is that there wa...
Vila do Conde has several Atlantic beaches, but Praia Azul, about 500 metres from the old town is the cream of the crop. This Blue Flag beach has a generous swathe of golden sand traced by a promenade and bikeway that runs several kilometres up to Póvoa de Varzim in the north. And despite having all the amenities to qualify it for a Blue Flag, Prai...
One of a couple of engaging sights on the right side of the Ave River estuary is this tiny chapel. A religious building of some description has been in this very place since before the 12th century, and the design of the current building is from around 1636. And although the low, whitewashed walls and terracotta roof are pretty discreet, the inside...
A few steps from the chapel is this sturdy 17th-century fortress, embedded in a platform of rock right on the beach. This fortification was active for 200 years, not least due to its strategic location, defending the shipyards in the Ave River from attacks by pirates and privateers. In the 1980s, after the fort had been abandoned for decades, the d...
This museum opened in 1991 in the splendid Casa do Vinhal townhouse, dating to the 1700s. The attraction is devoted to safeguarding Vila do Conde’s traditions, mostly the craft for which the museum is named (bobbin lace). There are some very dainty examples of local lacework in cabinets, on their own or attached to period clothing. You can cast you...
Despite being next to the city, Vila do Conde’s main beach feels natural and out of the way. Between the ocean and the town the Marginal Atlântica, keeps the high-rise apartments at a distance. The only building on the beachfront is the Forte de São João Baptista, which brings some drama to the scene, sitting on its bed of granite. Praia da Forno i...
Vila do Conde is a likeable resort town that is 25km to the north of Porto. The town offers glorious beaches, fascinating historical sights and bags of Portuguese charm, but is surprisingly overlooked by most foreign visitors. Vila do Conde is situated at the mouth of the Ave River, and was historically a centre of shipbuilding and seafaring.
The coastal town of Vila do Conde lies at the mouth of the River Ave around 30 km north of Porto. This is a town with two contrasting characters; there is the modern beach town with its apartment blocks and vilas that merges into...
Jul 8, 2024 · What is Vila do Conde known for? This town is known for its beautiful beaches and historical buildings. It makes a great choice for a low-key and personable beach holiday destination.
