Viana do Castelo

From CruisersWiki

Viana do Castelo, some 12 miles south of the border with NW Spain, is the first port in Portugal encountered by most yachts cruising southwards down the Atlantic coast of the Spanish/Portuguese peninsula. It straddles the estuary of the River Lima and has been an important fishing and sailing harbour for nearly 700 years. Several of the expeditions of the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries departed from here to explore undiscovered lands such as the Congo in West Africa and the coast of Newfoundland. The town still retains many relics of its past, with a 15th century Gothic cathedral and 16th century main square, Praça da República. A small 163-berth marina 1.5 miles upriver from the entrance offers secure mooring with most facilities close to the heart of the old town.

Charts

British Admiralty charts

3633

3634

3254

Portuguese charts

23201

24201

26401

Imray chart

C19

Weather

See Portugal.

Passages

See Portugal.

Communication

Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Navigation

Keep outside the 20m contour when approaching from both N and S to avoid rocky ledges inshore. Once the long N-S breakwater at the entrance is identified, steer a course of 005° into the harbour. The entrance is dredged to 8.0 metres and entry is possible at all states of tide and in all weathers. In heavy weather, however, give the end of the breakwater at least 200 metres clearance. The channel is buoyed from just inside the entrance. Pass the fishing harbour to port and continue for just under a mile towards the steel bridge. The marina entrance will be seen to port just before the bridge. The rise and fall of tide here is up to 3.0 metres at springs and a combination of an ebb tide with the outflow from the River Lima can make entry to the marina quite challenging. The marina entrance is dredged to 3.0 metres.

Entrance

Viana do Castelo is a port of entry/exit to Portugal.

For entrance details see Portugal.

Berthing

The principal berthing option is the Marina de Viana do Castelo, although there are plans to convert the commercial dock into a large new marina, Atlantic Marina. Little progress has been made on the latter to date (April 2013).

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

The Marina de Viana do Castelo accommodates 163 yachts up to a maximum length of 20 metres in depths of 3.0 metres. Click on the link for separate Wiki entry.

Anchorages

None. Anchoring is prohibited in the river.

Amenities

Facilities
Water	Οn the pontoons
Electricity	Οn the pontoons
Toilets	?
Showers	?
Laundry	Laundrette in the marina
Garbage	Bins at the marina
Supplies
Fuel	Fuel berth in the marina
Bottled gas	?
Chandlers	See Marina de Viana do Castelo
Services
Repairs	Most mechanical and electrical repairs can be organized through the marina. See Marina de Viana do Castelo. Chandlery in the fishing harbour.
Internet	?
Mobile connectivity	?
Vehicle rentals	?

Provisioning

Good Pingo Doce supermarket in the town. Daily fish and vegetable markets.

Eating out

• Os Tres Arcos in the old town is a great place for dinner

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

Tourism

History

Give a short history of the port.

Places to Visit

The marina lies close downstream of a somewhat unprepossessing steel bridge; however, the bridge’s claim to fame is that it was designed by none other then Gustav Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower, Paris fame). The old town west of the marina is very atmospheric, especially the main square of Praça da República, with its arcaded 16th century old town hall, Church of the Misericordia and Chafariz Fountain. The 15th century Gothic/Romanesque cathedral has some lovely 17th century woodcarvings inside. For those sound of wind and limb, the walk up to the impressively sited 19th century Neo-Byzantine Basilica of Santa Luzia on its eponymous hill overlooking the town is rewarded with superb views of the estuary. Wimps can take the funicular railway instead.

The square of Praça da República

Street scene with Santa Luzia in the background

Typical Portuguese azulejo tiles

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Viana do Castelo at the Wikipedia
• Viana do Castelo at the Wikivoyage

References

See Portugal.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Viana do Castelo and this page's details validated:

• April 2001 --Athene of Lymington 18:59, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington