Vila Real Historic Centre

Vila Real sits on a promontory, and its historic centre keeps an aristocratic townscape of armorial houses, Manueline windows and traditional wrought-iron balconies. The walk centres on Avenida Carvalho Araújo, the main artery, and on Vila Velha, the oldest quarter. The former church of São Domingos, raised by monks from Guimarães, is today the cathedral and stands at the heart of the city. It is a short, dense visit, easy to combine with Mateus Palace just outside town.