Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal

In the Braga District, Vila Nova de Famalicão is a modest working town. While it may not feature numerous remarkable attractions, the town compensates with intriguing medieval churches, the residences of notable historical figures, and museums that illuminate its industrial heritage.

Additionally, reaching nearby cities such as Braga and Guimarães, or coastal resorts for day trips, is quite convenient. The town’s performance venue, Casa das Artes, boasts a distinguished reputation, and throughout the year, Vila Nova de Famalicão hosts a variety of events, including a uniquely entertaining Carnival in late winter.

Let us examine the top attractions in Vila Nova de Famalicão:

1. Museu Bernardino Machado

This museum located in the 19th-century Palacete Barão de Trovisqueira provides an engaging look into an important period of Portuguese history.

The exhibits focus primarily on the timeline from 1835 to 1944, with a particular emphasis on the First Republic.

Bernardino Machado, who served as the third and eighth president of Portugal and was its last democratic leader prior to the establishment of a dictatorship in 1926, was raised in Vila Nova de Famalicão. The museum was inaugurated in his honor in 2001. Visitors will find original documents including photographs, letters, diplomas, along with monographs, furniture, personal effects, decorative arts, and paintings.

2. Casa de Camilo Castelo Branco

The esteemed 19th-century author Camilo Castelo Branco resided in this house intermittently from 1863 until his passing in 1890. Constructed at the beginning of the 19th century by Pinheiro Alves, who prospered in Brazil, the building holds historical significance.

Following Alves’ death, Castelo Branco moved in as he had a long-standing relationship with Alves’ ex-spouse, Ana Plácido, who inherited the residence through her son.

During his time here, Castelo Branco produced a considerable body of novels, plays, and essays. The house preserves many of his possessions, including furniture, daily utensils, 787 books from his private library, personal correspondence, press clippings, and over 1000 decorative items including paintings, ceramics, and sculptures.

3. Igreja de Santiago de Antas

This church, which originated in the 1200s, was part of a monastery established for the Knights Templar.

While its exterior appears rather austere, the interior is more intricate than it seems at first glance.

The nave incorporates elements of both Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, featuring coffered wooden ceilings, walls adorned with azulejos de tapete (carpet tiles), an ogival triumphal arch, along with Baroque gilded woodwork in the main chapel.

Notably captivating are the capitals supporting the arch; these medieval relics portray birds drinking from a chalice and devouring prey, alongside geometric and botanical patterns.

4. Mosteiro de Landim

Currently no longer serving as a religious institution, this restored former monastery is utilized as a venue for events during weekends.

However, visitors are welcome to explore it during the week.

It is worthwhile to visit, as it showcases an amalgamation of Romanesque, Gothic, Mannerist, Baroque, and Rococo architectural styles.

Notable features include an impressive organ dating back to the 1700s and relics from the monastery’s foundation established in the 1100s, such as blind arches with sculpted capitals within the main chapel.

Additionally, there is a cloister featuring a Doric colonnade amidst extensive parkland lined with beech, oak, and acacia trees, which house remnants from a lost 16th-century garden.

5. Museu Ferroviário do Lousado

This railway museum, established within the former workshops of the “Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro de Guimarães,” operated from 1883 to 1927. For those interested in industrial archaeology, this museum offers a wealth of machinery and tools dating from 1875 to 1965, collected from six different countries.

Children will find excitement in exploring the four steam locomotives, along with four preserved railway carriages open for entry.

Exhibits also include tools, vintage signs, old handcars, and an antique model train set.

6. Museu da Indústria Têxtil

This museum focuses on the industrial era, chronicling the development of Vila Nova de Famalicão’s textile manufacturing tradition.

The exhibits are displayed chronologically, allowing visitors to trace the village’s textile origins and confront the technical and social transformations during the industrial period.

A variety of machinery from that time is displayed, with some still operational, showcasing weaving, spinning, and finishing techniques.

As textiles continue to play a significant role in the local economy, a section is also dedicated to discussing the future of the textile industry along with its social and economic challenges.

7. Igreja de São Pedro de Rates

This Romanesque church, located a mere 15 minutes west of Vila Nova de Famalicão, attracts many visitors.

It shares similarities with the Igreja de Santiago de Antas, constructed in the same era.

The church was built atop a site once utilized by both Romans and Visigoths.

Numerous 12th-century sculptures remain intact, prominently displayed on the capitals that support the archivolts of the main portal and on the stonework within the structure.

Features include detailed patterned columns, an unusual arch adorned with human figures, and capitals depicting various beasts.

8. Casa das Artes

Vila Nova de Famalicão takes notable pride in its cultural center, recognized nationally and featuring a vibrant schedule that reflects the town’s size.

This stylish venue comprises two auditoriums, the larger accommodating nearly 500 guests, and showcases opera, live music, dance performances, and theatrical plays.

Weekly cinema screenings are also available for those seeking cultural entertainment; one can peruse the schedule for screenings of interest.

Furthermore, there is a more intimate venue, Café Concerto, hosting performances ranging from rock and blues to jazz, stand-up comedy, and debates.

9. Parque da Devesa

This expansive public park, spanning 27 hectares, was inaugurated in 2012 after nearly 25 years of planning.

It provides an excellent setting for leisurely strolls and picnics on sunny days, featuring extensive grassy areas interspersed with poplar, oak, cork oak, pine, and willow trees.

The park includes a section of the Pelhe River, allowing visitors to walk alongside its banks.

This rich aquatic environment has made the park a sanctuary for birds, with over 60 species recorded.

In the summer, keep an eye on the schedule for concerts held at the park’s 1000-capacity amphitheater.

10. Castros

Throughout Northern Portugal, many hills are distinguished by the ruins of Castros, which were settlements from the Bronze and Iron Ages, fortified by defensive walls and often inhabited until Roman times.

Some of these settlements evolved into modern towns and cities, while others were lost, only to be rediscovered in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the vicinity of Vila Nova de Famalicão, three notable sites can be explored: Castro do Monte das Ermidas, the largest and best-preserved site in the region; Castro de São Miguel-o-Anjo; and Castro de Eiras.

At Castro de Eiras, one can observe the remarkable “Pedra Formosa,” a monolithic stone adorned with intricate Celtic engravings.

11. Igreja de Santa Eulália do Mosteiro de Arnoso

The final medieval church in the area is this enigmatic chapel located in the parish of Santa Eulália de Arnoso.

This structure may date back to the 600s and underwent reconstruction in the 1000s following damage sustained during the Moorish period.

Upon first glance, it is evident that this building holds exceptional antiquity, characterized by primitive stone walls, limited openings, and few slender windows alongside the main portal.

The portal features capitals, archivolts, and tympanum with geometric designs reminiscent of Celtic artistry.

Inside the nave, more recent decorations can be found, including 16th-century frescoes depicting the life of Mary.

12. Days Out

The remarkable cities of Braga and Guimarães are within a half-hour’s journey.

Both cities offer insights into the very origins of the Kingdom of Portugal.

Braga was the country’s first diocese and hosts Portugal’s oldest cathedral.

A visit to the hilltop Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, also known as Good Jesus of the Mount, is a must; visitors can choose to ascend via the exquisite Baroque staircase or the 19th-century funicular.

Even closer is Guimarães, recognized as the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal.

Here, you will find a well-preserved castle dating back to the 10th century alongside the Gothic Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, associated with the royal family from the 17th century onward.

13. Annual Events

Noteworthy among the vibrant cultural offerings in Vila Nova de Famalicão are the lively Carnival celebrations held every February or March; remarkably, these festivities are a relatively recent tradition.

This event encourages mass participation, with nearly the entire town donning eccentric costumes for a series of themed parades and dances lasting ten days.

In autumn, the Feira Grande de São Miguel harvest festival occurs at the beginning of October, featuring artisans and farmers showcasing their goods in the Praça D. Maria II. Additionally, at the start of September, the Feira de Artesanato e Gastronomia (artisan craft and gastronomy) invites visitors to explore Portuguese traditions and delectable cuisine presented by 150 exhibitors.

14. Atlantic Coast

By taking the A7, visitors can reach the coast in just 20 minutes; the first stop is the large urban area connecting Vila do Conde with Póvoa de Varzim.

Both towns are charming, featuring Blue Flag beaches but displaying distinctly different characters.

Vila do Conde possesses a shipbuilding heritage dating back to the Age of Discovery, highlighted by a superb museum and a historical vessel from that era.

Meanwhile, Póvoa de Varzim, a vibrant tourist destination, is notable for its maritime heritage as a fishing port; it evolved into an upscale resort during the 19th century.

The Beaux-Arts casino and poveiro sailboats serve as enduring reminders of this historical era.

15. Local Cuisine

One of the reasons Vila Nova de Famalicão hosts an annual gastronomy festival is the importance of food in the local culture.

Besides the fair in September, a two-week event, Quinzena da Gastronomia, unfolds at the start of February, during which local restaurants showcase traditional dishes.

Some culinary delights to sample year-round include bacalhau à lagareiro, grilled cod served with sprouting greens, onions, and potatoes, roasted goat kid, or cozido à Portuguesa, a filling stew featuring a mix of meats, legumes, and vegetables.

In winter, a popular dish is rojões com papas de sarrabulho, consisting of fried pork accompanied by a rich, meaty soup.