Tourism

Sé de Lamego

In the 12th century, after the restoration of the diocese of Lamego, the construction of a larger temple began. Its location was established in the Rossio de Lamego, in the lower part of the future city, and construction began in the year 1159. Consecrated in 1175 to Santa Maria and S. Sebastião, the probable conclusion of the Cathedral would only happen in 1191. However, the various ages of History were responsible for significantly altering its original Romanesque profile. The Cathedral opens onto a wide paved churchyard, a work from the 18th century, with the facade marked by the robust tower remodeled in the 1700s. The main facade of the temple was rebuilt during the reign of D. Manuel I, combining the forms of flamboyant Gothic and the timid emergence of some forms of the Renaissance. Indeed, this renovation of the episcopal cathedral began in the 15th century and continued through the next. The facade’s construction campaign took place between 1508 and 1515, according to the plans of the architect João Lopes. On the ground floor, three pointed arch portals open, with the central one being larger, consisting of several archivolts resting on colonnettes, decorated with small sculptures of plant and zoomorphic motifs. Above these, Gothic windows open, with the central one of monumental dimensions and divided by curved stone frames. The three sections of the facade are divided by four buttresses and topped by pinnacles with crockets. Of the various dependencies that extend north of the main facade, the former Paço dos Bispos is notable, an 18th-century Baroque building that has been occupied since 1917 by the Lamego Museum, where some of the best works of art from the Cathedral and other religious houses in the city are kept. The interior of the cathedral is divided into three naves separated into three sections and covered by groin vaults, resting on round arches and thick pillars. The ceilings were painted in the first half of the 18th century by the Italian painter-architect Nicolau Nasoni, revealing perspectival compositions of triumphant Baroque, with an architectural theme framing biblical episodes. In the side naves, various and sumptuous Baroque altars open. Of large dimensions, the main chapel was remodeled in the 18th century, with an altarpiece from the late 1700s combining marble and gilded woodcarving, as well as a neoclassical choir stall with a high backrest. The windows, doors, arches, and its two organs are decorated by showy gilded woodcarving structures. The side chapels are modeled by superb Baroque altarpiece carvings, by João Garcia Lopes and made in 1751. The main altar of the Blessed Sacrament has a laborious silver frontal, the work of a goldsmith from Porto and dated to the third quarter of the 18th century. In the high choir, you can admire a beautiful choir stall with paintings, a graceful work of 18th-century Baroque. The illuminated sacristy contains a scenic Calvary with rocaille woodcarving, the work of a regional workshop and dated 1757. The balanced cathedral cloister is a 16th-century undertaking, divided into two floors, the first formed by round arches and the upper one consisting of a gallery of simple columns supporting a porch. On the lower floor of the cloister, there are two magnificent chapels. The one dedicated to Santo António is covered by a gilded and polychrome carved altar, housing sacred 17th-century images. The Chapel of São Nicolau, completed in 1563, has part of the walls lined with 18th-century tiles alluding to the life of the saint, which are the work of a workshop in the capital. It also has a harmonious and lively 18th-century carved altarpiece. In this 16th-century chapel, D. Manuel de Noronha, one of the most prominent bishops of the diocese of Lamego, is buried. Opening hours may vary according to the schedule of masses, celebrations, and other religious events.

Igreja de São Francisco

The Church of São Francisco, also known as the Church of São Francisco de Assis, is located on Rua de Almacave in Lamego. It is a building of typical Franciscan architecture, marked by a simple and unpretentious exterior, characteristic of this type of religious structure. Inside, the highlights include the main altarpiece painting, dating from the 17th century, as well as the narrative and national tile panels from the 18th century. The interior space is arranged in a single nave with side chapels, giving it a clear and balanced layout. The church forms part of the heritage ensemble of the parish of Almacave and is located close to other important monuments in the city, such as the Church of Santa Maria de Almacave and the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope.

Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios

On the site where the main chapel of Our Lady of Remedies was erected, there was a small hermitage, built by order of Bishop D. Durando in 1361, dedicated to Saint Stephen. In 1568, the Bishop of Lamego, D. Manuel de Noronha, authorized the demolition of the old hermitage and, on the site where the Courtyard of the Kings is currently located, ordered another one to be built under the invocation of Our Lady of Remedies. This chapel was also eventually demolished to build the current Sanctuary, whose first stone was laid in 1750, on the initiative of Canon José Pinto Teixeira. The Sanctuary building is a Baroque-style construction entirely made of granite, captivating with the elegance of its style, imposed by the creativity of the project’s author, believed to have been Nicolau Nasoni. The gilded woodwork is from the 18th century. The retable of the main chapel is a standout with its framing, forming an original piece within Portuguese carvings. At its center is the image of Our Lady of Remedies. Also noteworthy are the side altars of St. Joachim and St. Anne. Inside the temple, you can also admire beautiful tile panels, as well as interesting stained-glass windows that enrich the walls of the main body and the chancel.   The frontispiece of the Sanctuary is the most admirable part of the entire building, fascinating all who stop to admire the brilliance and creative genius evident there. All the elegantly refined granite ornaments are magnificent.   In the churchyard, on the south side, there is a harmonious fountain, entirely sculpted in regional granite, designed by Nicolau Nasoni and dated 1738. (see Fountains). Raised on the landing where the last steps of the staircase end, in the churchyard in front of the temple, you can see the monolithic cross with very fine ornaments. The author of the book "History of the Cult of Our Lady of Remedies in Lamego," Canon José Marrana—an essential and indispensable work for anyone who wants to better know the Sanctuary, Staircase, and Remedies Park—considers this piece "the wonderful crown of the entire staircase work, which stands out and dominates by the delicacy of its lines and its sculptural design." The two towers—with a project by the architect Augusto de Matos Cid—were started much later. The one on the south side began construction in 1880, with the tower on the north side only being completed in 1905. The main staircase began in 1777, but the works were not finished until the 20th century. The most magnificent part of the staircase is undoubtedly the "Courtyard of the Kings"—an admirable architectural work, centered on the Fountain of the Giants, from which a splendid obelisk rises, about 15 meters high. This courtyard is surrounded by several statues representing the last 18 names of the house of David. Also notable are the two porticos that provide side access to this large square. (see Artistic Treasures). Also worth mentioning is the Courtyard of Our Lady of Lourdes or of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, which contains a chapel that its founder dedicated to the Holy Family. Later, the Brotherhood had the image of Our Lady of Lourdes placed there. Above the door of the beautiful chapel is the coat of arms of Bishop D. Manuel de Vasconcelos Pereira, its builder. In front of this chapel is the Mermaid Fountain, whose name comes from the fact that it is adorned with a sculpture of a triton riding a dolphin—a figure that to the average visitor resembles a mermaid. Also on the staircase is the monumental Fountain of the Pelican, made of carved granite. The sculpture of the pelican in this fountain is particularly interesting (see Fountains). The afforestation of the park, the grotto, as well as the lake and bridge, were commissioned by the Brotherhood from the Horticultural Company of Porto in 1898. The grotto at the back was built in 1910 by an artist from Arneirós. The park, crisscrossed by several paths and with various nooks with picnic tables, has a wide variety of tree species, such as: yews, cypresses, Judas trees, acacias, linden trees, poplars, beeches, oaks, eucalyptus, elms, strawberry trees, chestnut trees, and many others.Opening hours may vary according to the schedule of Masses, celebrations, and other religious events.

Lamego Museum

Located in the historic centre of the city, the Lamego Museum was founded in 1917, in an 18th-century building that served as the Episcopal Palace. It belongs to the select group of centenary museums, whose creation reflects the effects of the Law of Separation of Church and State (1911), which followed the establishment of the Republic. With a truly eclectic collection, it houses painting, tapestry, furniture, goldsmithing, liturgical vestments and means of transport that were part of the former palace’s furnishings, later complemented by a set of chapels decorated with gilded woodcarving, archaeological artefacts, ceramics, prints, drawings and photography. The Flemish tapestry collection, woven in Brussels in the first half of the 16th century, the panels painted by Vasco Fernandes (Grão Vasco) for the Lamego Cathedral at the same time, the 17th-century tile panels, and a medieval tomb chest, classified as “national treasures,” are among the most significant works in a chronologically wide-ranging collection, with pieces dating from the 1st to the 20th century. Diverse and varied, the collection allows visitors to trace the evolution of the city of Lamego and the lives of the men and women who inhabited it over the centuries. The museum is part of the network of National Museums and Monuments in Portugal, managed by the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) and integrated into the national circuit, even though it is currently undergoing refurbishment to modernise the facilities and improve accessibility.

Teatro Ribeiro Conceição

Dating back to 1727, this theater was initially built to be the Misericórdia Hospital of Lamego, which operated here until 1892. Four years later, the old hospital became the new Regiment Barracks. However, on July 31, 1897, a serious fire reduced this building to rubble. In 1924, Commander José Ribeiro Conceição bought the ruined building at a public auction for ten thousand and one escudos (forty-nine euros and eighty-eight cents) and transformed it into an important and prestigious concert hall that would be a reference in the cultural life of the country’s interior for several decades. With great pomp and circumstance, the theater was inaugurated on February 2, 1929, maintaining its cultural activity until 1987, the year it was already in an advanced state of degradation. Finally, the Municipality of Lamego decides to proceed with the acquisition of this 18th-century monument, and in 1993, recovery and consolidation works were carried out on the building. At the end of 2005, rehabilitation works were carried out, and on February 23, 2008, the most beautiful concert hall in the Douro region was reopened: the Ribeiro Conceição Theater.   O horário de funcionamento do teatro poderá variar consoante a programação de espetáculos e eventos.

Igreja de Santa Maria de Almacave

Built near an Arab necropolis (macab – from which the name Almacave derives), this religious temple is a Romanesque construction (12th century) that was profoundly altered, especially in the 17th century, as evidenced by the tile panels with geometric and plant motifs, the pulpit, and the gilded woodcarving. From the primitive Romanesque style, the pointed arch portal with four archivolts stands out, with the most extensive one bordered by a checkered band. In the 18th century, the altars were enriched with tiles and gilded woodcarvings. Also noteworthy, in its interior—a single nave without a transept and with a chancel—are the tiles on the walls and choir, the pulpit built in 1600, and the sculptures of St. Joseph and St. Anthony, in 18th-century upholstered wood. History says that the first Cortes (parliamentary assembly) of the Kingdom of Portugal were held at the Church of Santa Maria de Almacave in the year 1143. Even today, the evocation of this assembly, in which D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, was acclaimed and invested, is one of the symbols of Lamego’s historical past.

Mercado Municipal de Lamego

The Lamego Municipal Market began operating on July 25, 1981. Its main objective was to supply the county seat with fresh products, given the difficulty at the time of serving the urban population with this type of product. It consists of three floors, with floors one and two used for the Market’s operation and floor three, until recently, occupied by the Hotel School, although its future use has not yet been defined. The opening hours for the public, from Monday to Saturday, are from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The busiest day for the market is Thursday, which coincides with the weekly fair. On this day, the Market exceptionally receives numerous producers who find a place there to sell their horticultural and fruit products. Considering that no requalification works have been carried out in that space for more than 25 years, the Lamego City Council will carry out an intervention for the revitalization and dynamization of the Lamego Municipal Market, in order to, on the one hand, comply with legal food safety requirements, and on the other hand, increase the attraction capacity of this space. The physical rehabilitation of the Municipal Market will be complemented with the training and modernization of commercial operators, regarding product display, customer service, sales techniques, conservation and maintenance of the guarantee of products sold, and the offer of value-added services – home deliveries, ATM payments, etc. Dissemination and promotion actions will also be developed, in order to lead the population to create the habit of going to the Municipal Market – to buy quality food products (fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and meat, flowers, bread, cheeses, sausages, sweets), particularly those of a traditional and regional nature.

Biblioteca Municipal de Lamego

The building that now houses the Lamego Municipal Library was the Palácio Mesquitela, a former manor house that later served as the headquarters of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and, after renovation works, became the library. It is an example of 17th-century architecture, linked to the Mesquitela family, and an important local cultural landmark. The origins of the Lamego Public Municipal Library date back to the late 19th century. The Viscount Guedes Teixeira, a major supporter of the Lamego Library, expressed the intention of maintaining a library in his municipality. Cassiano Neves was the main driving force behind a Popular Education Association, which included a Popular Library with 1,400 books, and is considered the principal founder of the Lamego Public Municipal Library. The Lamego Municipal Library is a dynamic space that offers, in addition to book lending and free Internet access (Wi-Fi), an online catalogue for research, reading promotion activities, guided tours, and research support. Its operations focus on the development of readers and civic participation, with a collection comprising more than 12,000 works.

Rua Porta do Sol

Rua Porta do Sol, in Lamego, is one of the city’s most emblematic streets, located in an old urban area that reveals the historical and cultural heritage of the municipality. Its name evokes a symbolic connection to light and the horizon, referring to the importance of the space in urban daily life. Along the street, you will find traditional architectural buildings that bear witness to the evolution of the urban fabric over the centuries. Walking along Rua Porta do Sol is also walking through a part of Lamego’s identity, where history and contemporary life harmoniously intersect.

Câmara Municipal de Lamego

The Lamego City Council is the main executive body of the municipality, responsible for the administrative, cultural, and urban management of the city. The building houses the municipal services and is a reference point in the political and social life of the community.

Rua da Olaria

Rua da Olaria (Pottery Street), in Lamego, owes its name to the artisanal activity that once existed there, linked to the working of clay and the production of pottery pieces. This past gives the street a strong connection to local traditions and the community life of yesteryear. Currently, Rua da Olaria preserves its typical atmosphere, maintaining the charm of a space that evokes the city’s collective memory. It is a place where Lamego’s artisanal history is reflected in its very urban identity, inviting a careful look at the intangible heritage that marked generations.

Visconde Guedes Teixeira Avenue

Visconde Guedes Teixeira Avenue is one of the main urban arteries of the city of Lamego, conceived in the early twentieth century during a period of significant urban modernisation. Its construction resulted from a plan to reorganise the urban fabric, aiming to replace narrow and irregular streets with broader, more representative avenues, adapted to the needs of traffic and to the city’s growing socio-economic importance. The avenue is named in honour of José Augusto Guedes Teixeira, 1st Viscount of Guedes Teixeira (1843–1890), one of the most prominent figures in Lamego’s political and administrative life in the late nineteenth century. A lawyer, businessman and Mayor of Lamego, the Viscount was a driving force behind local progress, promoting urban reforms and advocating the modernisation of the city within the context of a rapidly changing country. Along the avenue there are also several elements of heritage and symbolic interest, notably two statues that form part of Lamego’s collective memory. The statue of the Cochicho, a popular figure associated with everyday life and local traditions, evokes the more human and popular side of the city and is often interpreted as a tribute to ordinary people and to stories passed down orally through generations. In contrast, the Unknown Soldier monument has a more solemn and evocative character, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the service of their country, particularly in the context of the First World War. This monument serves as a place of remembrance and reflection and is the setting for commemorative ceremonies and tributes, reinforcing the historical and civic value of the avenue. Thus, Visconde Guedes Teixeira Avenue stands not only as an important urban and functional thoroughfare, but also as a space of identity, memory and historical representation of the city of Lamego, where modernity, tradition and civic remembrance intersect.

Lamego Castle

Regarding the antiquity of Lamego Castle, almost all authors consulted state that the castle "is a work of the Moors" and predates the founding of the nation. Of the original structure, only the keep (12th century), part of the old wall, and the cistern (13th century) remain. The keep, about twenty meters high, has a quadrangular plan with lighting slits on its faces, some of which were altered in the 16th century to be transformed into windows by order of the last Count of Marialva, D. Francisco Coutinho, perhaps to give the tower a residential function. The castle has a parade ground in the shape of an irregular hexagon, whose wall, with a perimeter of about ninety meters, is equipped with a wall walk, accessible from the north side by a flight of stairs. Between 1939 and 1940, when the centenary of the Foundation and Restoration of the nation was celebrated, the castle underwent restorations. The belfries and bells that existed at the top of the tower were removed to add battlements. Access to the old castle borough is through two gates opened in the wall. Those who enter from the north side pass through the arch called the “Porta dos Figos or Porta dos Fogos” (Gate of Figs or Fires), also previously called “Porta da Vila or Porta do Aguião” (Gate of the Village or the Aguião), while the gate on the opposite side is called "Porta do Sol" (Sun Gate). Next to the latter, we find an interesting heraldic house that belonged to the Cistercian Order and later became a foundling house. On the north side, there is still the Casa da Torre (Tower House), which now serves as the headquarters of the National Scout Corps. The City Council operated in this building until 1834, when it moved to the Casa da Relação (the current Bishop’s Palace). In the middle of Rua do Castelo, we can see the Chapel of Our Lady of Succour, on whose exterior wall there is an interesting tile panel with the inscription "N. S. do Coro 1671". Near this, there was another chapel dedicated to Saint Saviour, which is believed to have been the original cathedral. The Lamego Cistern, located outside the walls of the parade ground, is a rectangular and vaulted ashlar masonry with a ribbed ogive supported by wide bands resting on pillars. At about twenty meters long and ten wide, it is considered "one of the best examples of Portuguese castle cisterns" (Diretoria Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais cit. Laranjo, 1994, p.52). In November 2013, the Lamego Cistern reopened and saw the light of day again after undergoing major redevelopment work. Images, sounds, letters, experiences, and traditions are now available to the public in a space that now serves as a Memory Center. Upon entering the Cistern, visitors are immersed in the past, where multiple memories are projected continuously onto the stones that were once only spectators. A soundscape is associated with the space, recalling 800 years of daily sounds: the bell, the rooster, the stonemason, the town crier, the procession, weeping, and laughter. Lamego Castle is classified as a National Monument by Decree of June 16, 1910.

Cistern of Lamego

The Cistern of Lamego is a remarkable example of a medieval cistern located near the Castle of Lamego, in the historic Bairro do Castelo area. It is a large, rectangular vaulted water reservoir built of stone blocks, featuring a ribbed ogival vault supported by robust bands and pillars. It is considered one of the finest examples of castle cisterns in Portugal.Following rehabilitation work, the site was adapted for public visits and transformed into an exhibition space that invites visitors to explore the urban history of Lamego. The interior includes interpretive features that combine images, sounds, and everyday historical memories.The cistern is part of the heritage ensemble of Lamego Castle, which is classified as a National Monument, and forms an integral component of the fortified area that shaped the historical development of the city.

Chagas’ Church

The Church of the Chagas, also known as the Church of the Monastery of the Chagas, is located in Lamego and stands as one of the city’s most significant religious heritage sites. It was originally part of the Monastery of the Chagas, founded in 1588 by the Bishop of Lamego, D. António Teles de Menezes, for nuns of the Order of Saint Clare. Today, the church is the only surviving structure of the former convent and is classified as a Property of Public Interest. Its façade features a Renaissance portico flanked by classical columns. Inside, the single‑nave interior is richly decorated with 17th‑century tiles, gilt woodwork and Baroque altarpieces, notably those dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist. The ceiling and other internal structures, including former choir areas and the sacristy, further enhance its artistic and historical value. Owned by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lamego, the Church of the Chagas has undergone restoration works that highlight its artistic heritage and is open for religious services and cultural events.

Chapel of the Holy Spirit

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is a small and unique religious building located in the centre of Lamego, next to the Holy Spirit Fountain, on Rua das Canastras. The chapel was rebuilt in the 16th century by Bishop Manuel de Noronha, whose coat of arms can be found on the outside of the building, marking his intervention and his role in the religious history of the city. The interior of the chapel is small but features a remarkable decorative artistic ensemble. The main highlight is an 18th-century sculpture of the Holy Spirit by an unknown artist, which is located on the high altar and is of particular interest to visitors. In addition to the central sculpture, the space displays Baroque altarpieces, including an elegant altar on the Gospel side, a pulpit covered in gilded woodcarving and walls decorated with 17th-century tiles, which enrich the interior and reflect the Baroque aesthetics of the period.