Tourism

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.

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.

O Lamego

This is undoubtedly one of the most famous statues in the city of Lamego. Placed atop the fountain of the same name, it depicts a warrior in a haughty posture, wearing a helmet, holding a halberd in his right hand and a shield bearing the arms of Lamego in his left. The base bears the inscription Lamego. It is a well-executed work carved from the hard granite of the region and has always aroused curiosity. It is an integral part of the monumental fountain, and its history is therefore associated with it.

Statue of D. Miguel of Portugal (Bishop of Lamego)

This monument was inaugurated in 1951 in honour of the bishop ambassador, D. Miguel de Portugal. The statue is the work of Madeiran sculptor Francisco Franco. D. Miguel de Portugal was born in Évora, the son of D. Luís de Portugal, Count of Vimioso, and D. Joana de Mendonça, Countess of Basto. He was bishop of Lamego from 1635 to 1644, the year of his death. A year after the Restoration of Independence, in 1641, he was sent to Rome by D. João IV with the aim of presenting to Pope Urban VIII the reasons that justified the king’s claim to the throne of Portugal. Although he was never received by the Pope, he faced the intrigues of Spanish diplomacy with great courage and heroically resisted an ambush carried out by agents in the pay of the King of Castile who wanted to assassinate him.

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.

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.