Europe’s cities are some of the best on the planet for art, music and theatre – on ’s recent ranking of the world’s best cities for culture, nine of the top 20 positions were occupied by hubs on the continent.
Lisbon featured on the list, claiming twentieth place, but the capital is far from the only Portuguese destination worth travelling to for a culture fix.
In fact, a huge revitalisation project has just been announced for a beyond-the-obvious travel spot – the fortified town of Valença do Minho, which sits right on Portugal’s northern border with Spain.
The city council has produced a document detailing a vision ‘for the city’s transformation over the coming decade’, including projects that will not only better connect core landmarks in the town centre, but also improve the lives of locals and boost appeal to travellers.
According to The Portugal News, the area set for this transformation extends from the former Colégio Português to the Municipal Market, Municipal Garden, the Fairgrounds and the Old Customs House to the riverfront, all the way to Senhora da Cabeça.
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So, what’s on the cards? Key proposals include transforming the Municipal Market into a multi-purpose auditorium, developing new hotel faciliaites and opening a Railway Museum to celebrate the city’s rail heritage. In addition, the Old Customs House will become the Cultural Customs House, a cultural centre that will serve to promote the Camino de Santiago, a world-famous network of pilgrimage routes, two of which venture through Portugal.
But it’s not just a makeover for attractions – the mobility and quality of Valença’s public spaces are also set to be improved, including through the creation of a new pedestrian route between the town centre, the riverfront, and its perimeter, as well as a brand-new subterranean car park to free up space for pedestrians.
Sounds like pretty major changes are lined up, right? Stay tuned for all the updates, and in the meantime, have a browse of all our favourite spots to visit in Portugal below.
🌞 This is ’s ultimate guide to the very best cities, islands, and regions to visit in Portugal.
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