3 towns in the North of Portugal for a weekend getaway

3 towns in the North of Portugal for a weekend getaway

Hello everyone! Today we will keep talking about Portugal and now I want to tell you about 3 places that are perfect for a weekend getaway. As I live in Galicia, travelling to the North of Portugal is really easy for me so I can tell you that I know this whole area quite well. Previously, I spoke to you about Geres, a Natural Park situated really close to the border with Ourense. Today we will continue around the border area, let's go!

Melgaço

The first town which I want to talk to you about is called Melgaco. I was lucky enough to visit it the previous Christmas when I went back to Galicia for 20 days. I went to visit my friend Sandra a Tui and we decided to go here, since she had heard of a really pretty route in this town that went along the whole of the Mino river.

Melgaco is a tiny town, with barely 1,400 habitants. Its historic centre is really small and as a cultural interest, it has a small castle surrounded by a small wall. Right when we went, it was closed. We left the car in the centre of the town and we started to walk towards the river, looking for the route. The truth is that we had to walk for around 40 minutes, since this wooden walkway was quite far away from the centre. Also, I have to say that it wasn't very well signposted, there were hardly any signs so it was really hard for us to find it. To top it off, there was nobody around that we could ask. Finally, we came across this wooden walkway on which we could walk the whole of the Alto Mino along.

This route is called the "the marginal route of Rio Mino" and it is quite long. We were walking aimlessly until the sun began to set, since we still had around 40 minutes walk to get back to the car. Along the journey, at the parts which were closest to the river, we could see some old fishing areas. They were like stone dikes which used to be build perpendicularly to the current of the Mino river. Along the whole route you will come across informative posts which explain all of this in a lot more detail.

I have to say that walking along Melgaco, we could see the devastating consequences from the fires in Galicia and the North of Portugal on these landscapes. Luckily, the flames didn't come to this area of the river Mino and Melgaco in general, so you can still see a very green landscape which has not been destroyed by the fire.

Here are some photos from this day. The truth is that the Mino is a beautiful blue colour. Also, very close to the entry to this route, there is a big hotel with a spa. We could see how some rooms had a really big window which looked over the river, with views of the woods as well. As a weekend getaway, I think that this would be a good plan, perfectly for disconnecting and getting in touch with nature.

Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo, a more well known borough than Melgaco, is situated on the riverbanks of the Lima river. The truth is that is gives of the impression of being a city, compared with Melgaco. There is a lot a more atmosphere in the street, you could see more foreign people and there were also quite a few shops and cafes. The cathedral stood out, the Praca de Republica and in general, all of the buildings whose architecture perfectly represents Portuguese culture, as well with the tiles or their religious motives. This historic centre is quite pretty for a walk, to have a coffee peacefully and if it is good weather, go to the beaches is a good idea too.

However, the cherry on the cake of Viana do Castelo is the Sanctuary of Santa Luiza which is more in the outskirts. It belongs to the Neo-Byzantine period, specifically the 20th century. This basilisk is found at the top of the mountain, from which you have beautiful views of the river and the whole borough. We went here by car, but it is true that you can go by foot or by cable car. Here I'll show you some photos that I took that day. The light was amazing and we were basically alone. As an interesting fact, you should know that the rose window that you see on the basilisk, is the second biggest one in the whole of Europe, and the biggest in the Iberian peninsula. Now do you value what you have close to home? The Sanctuary of Santa Luzia is definitely the main tourist attraction in the city and it can't be missed. I recommend it.

Valença do Minho

This borough is very close to Tui, in fact, Tui and Valenca do Minho are practically considered a EuroCity. For those who don't know, a "EuroCity" is an agreement between two boroughs which belong to two different countries in the European Union, but whose aim is based on having the same resources and so, in this way and in the long term, will become one city in the future. So, to go to one city to the other, it is as simple as crossing a bridge which goes over the Mino river, whether by car or by walking.

Valenca do Minho is famous for its medieval fort. This fort is the most interesting part of the city, from which you can see Tui and the Minho river perfectly. This wall surrounds the whole village since it used to protect it from potential invasions. The wall stretches 5km and it is open to the public and it is completely free to visit. Nowadays, it represents the union link between Spain and Portugal. Inside the wall, there are hundreds of little shops where they sell souvenirs, but also typical Portuguese products such as towels or bed sheets. There are also restaurants which offer typical dishes consisting of local gastronomy, so whatever you eat, Portuguese food will never disappoint, therefore, it is a complete pleasure to eat here. The famous Portuguese bacalao, their wine and dessert, their famous cream pasties to finish off the meal with something sweet. In general, the inside of the wall is a very peaceful place, to admire each shop and walk peacefully. A perfect plan for a Sunday.

And that is everything I wanted to tell you. I think that if you live nearby to Galicia, this could be a good weekend plan to go to these little villages, for example if you wanted to go around all 3 in the same day; they are very nearby so it could be perfectly doable. I always love going to Portugal. Good food, historical places, river and sea. Now I am done, I hope that you have enjoyed hearing about these three places in the North of Portugal, the photos that I have included and my views. Thank you for reading this post, and I'll see you for the next one!

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