10 Best Sights in Northern Portugal, Portugal

Plans for an underground car park in front of the city's courthouse were canceled in 2006 when remains of the long-lost Roman baths, dating back to the 1st century AD, came to light—steam still rising from the hot spring. The therapeutic complex is one of the largest unearthed in Europe, with two large pools and seven smaller ones, and a hydraulic system that still works today. The museum opened in 2021.

In the heart of the old shipyard district, the former Royal Customs House houses displays on Portuguese maritime voyages, especially those that started in Vila do Conde, and on local shipbuilding over the centuries, covering various types of vessels and construction processes. The Nau Quinhentista tied up at the quay across the road—a locally built replica of a 16th-century carrack—forms a part of the museum.

The Rio Cávado, crossed by a medieval bridge, is shaded by overhanging trees and bordered by municipal gardens. High above the river stands the ruin of the medieval Paço dos Condes (Palace of the Counts), where you'll find the Barcelos Archeological Museum. Among the empty sarcophagi and stone crosses is the 14th-century crucifix known as the Cruzeiro do Senhor do Galo (Cross of the Lord of the Rooster). According to local legend, after sentencing an innocent man to death, a judge prepared to dine on a roast fowl. When the condemned man said, "I'll be hanged if that rooster doesn't crow," the rooster flew from the table and the man's life was spared. The Barcelos rooster is on sale in pottery form throughout the town; indeed, it's become something of a national symbol.

At the top of the Largo do Toural is this excellent archaeological museum contained within the cloister of the the Igreja de São Domingos. The museum has rich finds from the Celtic settlement of Citânia de Briteiros northwest of Guimarães, which makes it a logical stop before or after visiting the site. There are also Lusitanian and Roman stone sarcophagi, a strange miniature bronze chariot, various weapons, and elaborate ornaments. Two finds stand out: the decorative, carved stone slabs known as the pedras formosas (beautiful stones)—one of which was found at a funerary monument at Briteiros—and the huge, prehistoric granite Colossus of Pedralva, a figure of brutal power thought to have been used in ancient fertility rites.

Created in 1919 by António Maria Pereira Júnior, the Escola de Rendas (Lace-Making School) is attached to the Museu das Rendas de Bilros de Vila do Conde. Here you can see beautiful examples of lace from the region and from around the world.

The beautifully preserved convent buildings surrounding the Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira house this museum, known for its beautiful displays of religious art, medieval statuary, and coats of arms. The highlight is a 14th-century silver triptych of the Nativity that's full of animation and power. It's said to have been captured from the king of Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota and presented to the victorious Dom João I, whose tunic, worn at the battle, is preserved in a glass case nearby.

Artifacts from the old Roman city known as Bracara Augusta (founded 15 BC), from which Braga derives its name, are showcased at this museum. A 1st-century mosaic found on-site during construction is impressive, but there are many other fascinating items dating from prehistoric through to medieval times.

A five-minute walk from the medieval bridge, this amazing museum has a collection comprising more than 9,000 pieces of pottery from various epochs. Many are from excavations from all over the world, particularly from Portuguese-language countries. It all makes for a fascinating showcase of traditional pottery techniques and styles. There are also workshops and a documentation center. If you have trouble finding the place, look for the massive rooster out front.

Viana is known for its colorful traditional outfits, making the Costume Museum an important city landmark. Displays show how colors and patterns vary, even from village to village, as well as how the garments are made by hand. A separate room showcases the rich regional tradition of working in precious metals. The museum shop is an excellent place to pick up jewelry, traditional embroidery, and other craft items.

If you can't make your visit to the region coincide with one of the festivals in which local lads wearing wooden masks roam the streets, the Museu Ibérico da Máscara e do Traje is definitely worth a visit. A joint Portuguese-Spanish initiative, it has displays on the celebrations in villages across Trás-os-Montes and across the border in Zamora. The many costumes on show are riotously colorful and the masks strikingly carved. Information in English is available.