Page 282 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

11 poses, including one man
with his posterior bared
Caminha towards Spain. Did You Know?
Foz do Minho, the mouth
! D1 £ @ g n Praça of the Minho, lies 5 km (3 miles) Moncão’s coat of arms
Conselheiro Silva Torres;
258 921 952 south west of Caminha. From show a heroic baker who
here local fisher men will take threw rolls at besieging
This ancient fortress town groups (by prior arrange­ Spanish troops
ment) to the ruined island
in 1368.
perches beside the Minho
EXPERIENCE Minho to Spain. Occupied in Celtic The small walled town of cenotaph of the valiant Deu­
with fine views across the river fortress of Forte da Ínsua.
Vila Nova de Cerveira, 12 km
and Roman times for its
strategic position, Caminha
(7 miles) north east of
la­Deu Martins, the town’s
developed into a major port
Caminha on the road to
Valença, is ideal for a stroll.
until the diversion of its trade
used the last of the town’s
to Viana do Castelo in the
Either meander in narrow
16th century. Today it is a small streets lined with 17th­ and heroine. This female baker
flour to bake rolls that she
port, with a daily ferry con­ 18th­century mansions, or then flung at the Spanish
nection to A Guarda in Spain. wander along the river . during the seige of 1368.
On the main square is the The troops soon retreated.
13th­century Torre do Relógio A colourful element in the
clock tower, once a gateway in 12 June Corpus Christi festival
the medieval defensive walls, is the Festa da Coca, when
and the 16th­century Paços Monção St George engages the dragon
do Concelho with its attractive ! E1 @ n Praça Deu la Deu, (coca) in comic ritual combat
loggia supported by pillars. Casa do Curro; 251 649 013 before giving the final blow.
Cross to the other side of the The countryside around
square, past the Renaissance A remote and charming town, Monção produces ex cellent
fountain, to admire the seven Monção once formed part of vinho verde (p281); one of the
Manueline windows on the the string of fortified border best­known estates is the
upper storey of the Solar dos posts standing sentinel on the Palácio de Brejoeira, 5 km
Pitas mansion (17th century). Minho river. Both the town’s (3 miles) south of town.
The Rua Ricardo Joaquim main squares are lined with About 5 km (3 miles) south­
de Sousa leads to the Gothic old houses, and decorated east of Monção, the monastery
Igreja Matriz. Begun in the late with chestnut trees, flowerbeds of São João de Longos Vales
15th century, it has a superb and mosaic paths. was built in Romanesque style
inlaid ceiling of panels carved The 13th­century Igreja in the 12th century. The
in Mudéjar (Moorish) style. Matriz in Rua João de Pinho exterior capitals and interior
Renaissance carvings above boasts an outstanding Roma­ apse have fantastical sculpted
the side doors depict the nesque door way of sculpted fig ures, including serpents and
Apostles, the Virgin, and acanthus flowers. Inside, to monkeys. Visits are arranged
several figures in daring the right of the transept is the by the tourist office in Monção.

Rua Direita, one of
Caminha’s attractive
narrow streets
282

282-283_EW_Portugal.indd 282 20/09/2018 10:41

EW Catalogue template v3.0 – 12th July 2018
EW Catalogue template v2.4 – 17th April 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text,
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224
Soho Gothic Pro, Soho Pro