Vila Real, Portugal

Discover the city of Vila Real and enjoy some memorable holidays in northern Portugal!

Vila Real
© Câmara Municipal de Vila Real

Vila Real stands upon the rocky hills in the confluence of the Corgo and Cabril rivers, in the region of Trás-os-Montes, in northern Portugal.

Palácio de Mateus (Mateus Palace)
© Celestino Manuel

Diogo Cão House
© Celestino Manuel

This town is worth noting for its charming historical city centre, spattered with picturesque old churches. However, one of its main baits is outside the borders of the town, among the rocky area of Alvão Natural Park and the Mateus Palace, considered one of the most lavish manor houses in Europe.

The commercial hub and main monuments surround the Carvalho Araújo Avenue. Here stands the Palácio dos Marqueses de Vila Real (Palace of the Marquess of Vila Real), also known as Casa do Arco, with its beautiful manueline-style windows. The Cathedral of Vila Real and the house where the Portuguese explorer and sailor Diogo Cão Escudeiro was born are also in the same area. Diogo Cão Escudeiro explored the African coast between 1482 and 1486.

A short distance from the house of Diogo Cão, closing one of the ends of the Avenue, is the Town Hall, preceded by a majestic staircase.

Only 150 metres away from the Town Hall, after crossing the medieval neighbourhood, we reach the old city cemetery along with the Igreja de São Dinis Church and Capela de São Brás Chapel. It’s advised to surround the fence along its right side so you can get amazing views over the gorge of the rivers Corgo and Cabril in the Trás-do-Cemitério outlook.

Other interesting buildings in the city are the Igreja de São Pedro Church, the Igreja da Misericórdia Church, and the Igreja dos Clérigos church, also known as Capela Nova.

Mapa Interactivo:

Vila Real

What to see:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal