Historical City of Valença "Inside the Fortification" | Portugal

Hi all :)

This time we went up to Valença, a city located in the district of Viana do Castelo and bordering Tui in Spain.
Valença didn't always have this name, in fact, this name started being used in the year 1262, before that, it was known as Contrasta.
The city has several points of interest, but we specifically went to visit the small location inside the Fortress. As a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status, the Fortress of Valença has over 5 km of walls and was constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries, during the medieval period. It had been many years since i had been there, and i wanted to see what was different.

We entered the fortress through the "Portas do Sol" Sun Doors, of which there are several, but this one is the most suitable for visitors.
There are also the "Portas da Gaviarra" (the northern entrance used by pilgrims on the Santiago path) and the "Porta da Coroada".
We started wandering through the narrow streets, and at that hour, there was still little movement.
The Fortress is filled with shops selling all kinds of products and restaurants, where we were immediately approached with lunch menus as we passed by.

At the end of the first street, we came across the Church of Santa Maria dos Anjos, which is the main church of Valença. We retraced our steps and realized that we had passed right by the neoclassical building of the Town Hall, there are so many details that make us look in different directions at the same time, and in this case, it was only by passing through the same place twice that we noticed buildings we hadn't seen on the first pass.
It is impossible not to be enchanted by the architectural details that emerge at every corner, stone arches, ornate balconies, and ancient facades displayed a wealth of elements that bore witness to a glorious past.
In an instant, the streets filled up, and even though it was lunchtime, all the shops were open.

We continued our walk through the streets of the fortress, marveling at the historical atmosphere that envelops the place, the centuries-old buildings, the old facades, and the bustling squares make us think about what life used to be like within those walls.
Here, you can find several chapels and churches, as this is a place of devotion, pilgrimage, and passage for pilgrims.

However, even with all the activity around me, it was still possible to find moments of tranquility in the less crowded areas. Quiet corners invited contemplation.
As we crossed the Portas do Meio, we were met with an enormous number of squares, restaurants, and tourists.
From what i could observe, many people visit this place to explore the local commerce, there you can find a little bit of everything, from what i remember from one of my childhood visits, there were shops and people shopping.

In the first square, we found the statue of São Teotónio and the Chapel of Bom Jesus do Bonfim, this statue is one of the most emblematic attractions of the fortress, characterized by its priestly attire and holding a cross symbolizing his faith. Behind it, a wall caught our attention because people would place their hands on it as they passed by, and only upon getting closer did we realize that water was flowing from it. Children took the opportunity to play and refresh themselves.
We took the opportunity to enter the chapel and observe its details in gilded woodwork, with meticulously sculpted sculptures adorning the altars, while the soft light filtered through the ancient windows created a serene and reverent atmosphere, some people were offering their prayers, so we didn't stay long.
As the day was coming to an end, we were certain that this visit had been memorable. The mixture of history, culture, devotion, and architectural beauty left us fascinated.
Valença, with its imposing fortress and charming chapels and churches, revealed itself as a treasure to be preserved.

Hope you enjoyed this share :)
Don't miss the next visit

Photo by @aleister
Camera - Canon EOS 600D
Lens - EFS 18-55mm / 70-300mm
Location - Portugal

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