| LAMEGO |
Overlooked by one of Portugal's most important shrines, Lamego
is an ancient episcopal city lying within the Upper Douro's
demarcated Port wine area. Located in a fertile valley, it is
a delightful Baroque town with a central square laid out as
a public garden surrounded by elegant 17th-century buildings.
Its most significant role in the country's history was as the
site where, in 1143, the cortes met for the very first
time to declare Afonso Henriques as Portugal's first king.
What to see: Lamego's 12th-century castle on one of the
city's two hills preserves a fine 13th-century keep and an unusual
Moorish vaulted cistern. Atop the other hill is its most important
building, the pilgrimage church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios,
which is reached by a magnificent Baroque-style 600-step staircase.
The cathedral, a Gothic structure, was built by Afonso Henriques
in 1129. The city museum housed in the early 18th-century bishops'
palace, includes 16th-century Flemish tapestries and works by
Grão Vasco.
Nearby: 3 km from Lamego, the little rustic church at
São Pedrode Balsemão is claimed to be the oldest
in Portugal. Built in the 7th century by the Christian Visigoths
before the arrival of the Moors, it was only restored in the
17th century. The church of the first Cistercian monastery at
São João de Tarouca 17 km from Lamego was founded
in 1139. Its painting of St Peter by Grão Vasco is a
national treasure. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| © 2007 Maisturismo |
