City: Portugal
Top Things to do in Portugal
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What to do and see in Portugal, Portugal: The Best Churches & Cathedrals
– in Europe (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green)
Restaurants in Portugal
1. Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria de Valega
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 145 reviews
Válega church is a true masterpiece of tile painting art and surely one of the remarkable churches in Portugal! On sunset the church facade, facing west, is particularly beautiful, bathed by sunlight. A true golden temple that sparkles with its amazing tiles of many colours. The patronage of the church belonged to private owners until 1150. Válega is located 6,5 km away from the city of Ovar and it sure deserves a visit!
Reviewed By AndreAlvesPT - Lisbon, Portugal
It's a not that known gem in the country. Beautifully tiled church in a tiny village and the interior is also imponent with painted walls, wooden ceiling and the cemetery adjacent to it is also an "attraction".
2. Capela dos Ossos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,483 reviews
The walls and pillars of the chapel, built in the century XVII, are lined with thousands of human bones and skulls. Ceilings with murals realtivas death. Written on a plaque next to the door, the phrase "We bones that are here for your hope", reminds us how fleeting passage through life.
Reviewed By jonahNJ - Pennington, United States
The one place I was really looking forward to visiting in Portugal was the Chapel of The Bones. Once inside this relatively small chapel, it exceeded my expectations! Note that the chapel is small, so there is a staggering of groups admitted to the chapel. However, the visitors moved along well during my visit. Just outside of the chapel is a poem which compels travelers to ponder their existence. If that was not enough of a prompt, just over the entrance to the chapel is the engraved warning “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” which loosely translates to “We bones that are here, we are waiting for yours." I then entered the chapel and sure enough all of the walls and pillars are covered in a variety of human bones and skulls. Skulls are also used to trim portions of the ceiling. During my visit, I learned that approximately 5,000 skeletons from church cemeteries in Evora were used to “decorate” the chapel. Visiting this small chapel was one of the most surreal experiences of my life and a must see for visitors to Evora.
3. Basilica de Nossa Senhora do Rosario de Fatima
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,063 reviews
This national shrine is the site where three young peasant shepherds spied a "lady brighter than the sun," which was, many believe, the first of six apparitions of the Virgin Mary in this region of Portugal.
Reviewed By 504marynam - Detroit, United States
It takes a full day trip from Lisbon to visit Fatima, Balthahal monastery, Bleeding host church at Santarem and Fatima. We were a group of 15 and we hired a 15 seater mini bus with a driver from the Mundo do Flamingo travel agency. Their charges are very, very reasonable - just 500 euros for 15 of us to visit these 3 sites. The driver was very friendly and engaging. Fatima was awesome. We saw the Lucia, Jacinto and Francisco's humble homes - very touching, we also got to personally meet Sr. Lucia's 99 year old niece. The Via Sacra - way of the cross garden is very calm and beautiful. The highlight of the trip was the candle light procession at 9.30 pm. Don't miss this event. Very beautiful to see Our Lady revered by some many from all over the world. When we reached back to our Lisbon hotel, it was almost 1.00 am! This place is worth visiting.
4. Igreja de Sao Francisco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 457 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
You are about to visit "Igreja de São Francisco", a beautiful church at the historic center of Évora. It is considered to be the very first Franciscan Order church in Portugal, dating from the 13th century. Later, between 1475 and 1550, it was remodeled, acquiring Gothic and Manueline architectural characteristics, which are still seen. Along the years, the Portuguese Royal Family chose the church complex as its lodging place while visiting Évora, appointing "Igreja de São Francisco" as the "Royal Chapel". Generous donations from the Portuguese Crown helped creating its refined and luxurious interior, with beautiful altars, gilded sculptureworks and Renaissance and Baroque choir stalls. Ten open chapels, five on each side, reflect the richness of its decoration. Restoration efforts, dating from 2015, brought back its former splendor. Visit the church, altars, baptismal font, side chapels and the adjoining "Capela dos Ossos" (literally, "Chapel of Bones" in English), one of the most famous tourist attractions of Évora. Enjoy!
5. Carmo Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 427 reviews
Reviewed By JohnBishop3 - Auckland Central, New Zealand
Going into the church it was very opulent and ornate and quite the contrast when you go out the back of the church to the Bone Chapel. The Bone Chapel was quite chilling to see, but definitely worth the look.
6. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Nazare
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 678 reviews
Reviewed By 478incon - Bruges, Belgium
Beautiful old church from the glory days of Portugal. Pay 1 Euro and visit the old chappel with corridir stil plastered with the Original azulejos. Don't mis it when you go to Nazaré
7. Igreja de Sao Lourenco de Almancil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 427 reviews
Reviewed By Sylviajf55 - Bristol, United Kingdom
Beautiful, tiny, stunning church. We missed this church on many visits but when we got there I was lost for words.
8. Nossa Senhora da Paz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 487 reviews
Reviewed By seanm66 - Alfred, United States
Beautiful old church on the top of the hill. Has amazing tile work and stone work with breath taking views.
9. Igreja Matriz de Sao Sebastiao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 298 reviews
Reviewed By Nanette132 - Brisbane, Australia
An easy walk to this lovely old church from the port. We were to go on a free walking tour from near here but they didn't show up so we visited the church. The outside was plain but lovely inside, in the distinctive Portuguese style. You can walk up to the Botanic Gardens E1 for seniors and the Sant Ana Palace in the Park from here and also the very interesting Fort Sao Bras and Military Museum. Pick up a map as you leave the ship, ask them to mark the highlights and walk the narrow streets of lovely Ponta Delgada. The Sol Mar supermarket is across the street from the port, cheap water, beer and wine in Litre cartons, easy to carry back on the ship.
10. Santuario de Santa Luzia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,338 reviews
Reviewed By Soggy63 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
A few years ago my wife and I walked through Viana do Castelo, whilst walking the Camino Portuguese and I saw Santuario de Santa Luzia on the hill but didn’t have time to visit. Last week we were back in Viana do Castelo and decided to visit and were not disappointed. Due to it being such a hot day we decided to make the journey up and down via the funicular railway, which itself is impressive. Santuario de Santa Luzia is a fantastic dome roofed church with beautiful paintings on the ceiling. The building is both impressive inside and out. From the steps the views over Viana do Castelo and the Atlantic Ocean as amazingly. Santuario de Santa Luzia is definitely worth a visit.
