Even after a bumpy ride by bad weather, here we have good news of our VW
Vila do Conde is a beautiful city in the north of Portugal, the county seat, situated on the river Ave, and near the sea and an important industrial center, fishing port and, increasingly, a tourist center.
The origins of the town are very old, and there is a Celtic fort in the eighth century BC, the hill overlooking the Rio Ave From the third century BC is occupied by the Romans who choose to move the population to the lowlands around the hill. Vila do Conde was also populated by Swabians between the fifth and sixth centuries.
As early as the beginning of the XIV built the Monastery of the Order of Santa Clara (photo 2), which initiated a fast development in the lifestyle of the village.
It was during the fifteenth and sixteenth century, Vila do Conde has experienced its heyday, the period and the development of maritime trade, altering the structure of the town at the structural, architectural, social and human.
Vila do Conde has always had a strong connection with the sea, which sank further with the construction of the shipyard in the Age of Discovery (photo 1). The heritage of this quiet town was an important and unique beauty, it is possible to prove the beautiful Monastery of Santa Clara with his Church and Convent House, but also in other places like the majestic aqueduct of 999 arches to the early eighteenth century (picture 5 ), the Church of the sixteenth century (photo 4), the Chapel of Santa Catarina (fifteenth century), the churches of San Francisco and of Mercy, the chapels of S. Roque and S. Benedict, or the Castle of St. John the Baptist, also known as Forte (photo 3), located in beautiful Foz do Rio Ave, built to protect the port and into the river and the city, not forgetting the important shipyards building wooden currently located in the parish of Azurara, dating back to the principles of nationality.
Do not miss is all the archaeological heritage of the region, highlighting the Castro of San Palo in Labruge with the remains of a fishing village pre-Roman and Castro Bagunte, with traces of Celtic occupation from the first millennium BC and the century IV AD
Across the county there are many mansions that attest to the wealth that the fertile land, rich sea, and endless ocean brought over the years.
The beaches are also of great beauty, attracting plenty of visitors in summer
Vila do Conde is well known for its craft production, particularly those of bobbin lace, a tradition dating back to the sixteenth century, and has been duly registered in the interesting Museum of Lace and preserved by the School of Revenue. The craft of the region is strongly represented in the National Fair held annually in July and August and brings many visitors. A visit around and will most certainly welcome!
