Vila do Conde

Vila do Conde sits at the mouth of the Ave and built ships - the yards here made vessels for the voyages of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and the tradition continued into the twentieth century in wooden boatbuilding. A full-size replica nau, built to period methods, is moored at the old shipyard as a museum. Above the town stands the Mosteiro de Santa Clara, founded in 1318, an enormous Gothic and later block whose aqueduct was built in the eighteenth century to supply it: nearly a thousand arches over about four kilometres, of which several hundred survive and can be followed on foot. The town is also the national centre of bobbin lace, with a school and museum where the craft is taught and demonstrated. The Ave estuary, a long beach and the Santa Clara statue above the monastery complete it.

History

The earliest written document, of 953, from Countess Mumadona Dias, already names the Villa de Comite, though its roots go back to Iron Age hillforts such as the Castro de São João. King Dinis granted the lordship to Maria Paes da Ribeira, and in 1318 his son Afonso Sanches and Teresa Martins founded the Monastery of Santa Clara here (Wikipedia, Vila do Conde).

What you'll find

• The aqueduct - eighteenth-century arches over about four kilometres to the convent.
• The Santa Clara monastery - a large Gothic foundation of 1318 above the town.
• The lace school - bobbin lace taught and demonstrated, with a museum.
• The replica nau - a period-built ship at the old shipyard.

When to go

April to October. Half a day. Museum and convent hours vary and several close on Mondays.

Good to know

The convent has been used for other purposes and access to parts is limited. The aqueduct is best seen on foot, which takes time. Lace demonstrations depend on the school's schedule. The town beach has cold Atlantic water.

Nearby

Póvoa de Varzim is north; Porto is south on the metro line.

Key facts