Fodor's Expert Review Ourivesaria Freitas

Gold and silver filigree, made by twisting and plaiting metal and then shaping it into decorative forms—is a technique that is thought to have Phoenician origins, but Minho is the home of Portuguese filigree. The Viana heart is perhaps their best-known design, appearing in ear-rings and other jewelry. Ourivesaria Freitas, founded in 1920, is the ideal place to pore over these and myriad other designs. The attached museum houses some beautiful antique pieces.