Vila do Conde is just an hour by Metro from Porto's Sao Bento station. It has a quaint historic center and is popular as a weekend trip from Porto. It was an important salt exporter during Roman times and a prime shipbuilding port during the Age of Discoveries.
Along the river, near our hotel, there was a bronze statue of a lacemaker.
A replica of a 16th-century nau (a pot-bellied caravel used for cargo and naval operations) is docked outside the Museum of Shipbuilding. You can wander the various decks for a fee.
Capela de Nossa Senhora do Socorro (Our Lady of Help) is unusual in that it has a dome. The interior is typical 18th-century Portuguese architecture, with azulejos showing the life of Christ and a Rococo-style altar.
In front of the capela is a public square, Praça da Alfândega, with Relógio de Sol, a sundial.
Mermaid at the base of Relógio de Sol.
Vila do Conde has many charming houses lining Praca da Republica. Quite a few were for sale.
From the Praca da Republica, you can see the hilltop Mosteiro de Santa Clara. Founded in 1318, it was one of the largest and richest convents in Portugal.
A section of the aqueduct is still visible. It was constructed between 1705 and 1714, had 999 arches and ran for four kilometres. The aqueduct is the second longest in Portugal.
Continuing north through town, you'll find the Igreja Matriz de Sao Joao Baptista.
Across the street is the Vasco da Gama Square or the New Square. Government offices of Vila do Conde, including the town hall which was built in 1538, occupy the square.
The pillory in the square was built in 1538. It was at the Praca da Ribeira until 1913 when it was transferred here. In Manueline style, it has a twisted shaft, in the form of a rope, and the iron sword of justice at the top, wielded by an arm that comes out of the top spike. It was used for public punishment of offenders.
I wish we had spent more time in Vila do Conde. We didn't get a chance to tour the insides of the churches or museums and didn't make it up to the convent.
2022 09 28
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