Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira

The Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira is one of the oldest castles in Portugal, its great keep rising above the town that grew around it. Its walls and towers, restored in the twentieth century, and the medieval festival held here each summer make it a rewarding stop between Porto and Aveiro.

An old castle of the north

The fortress has its origins in the tenth and eleventh centuries, when the region was repeatedly contested between Christians and Muslims. Its massive keep, one of the oldest in Portugal, was built in the eleventh century, and the castle was rebuilt and extended in the fifteenth, when it became the seat of the counts of Feira.

What to see

• The keep and the walls, with a walk around the battlements.
• The chapel and the rooms within the castle.
• The Viagem Medieval, one of the largest historical festivals in Portugal, held in summer.
• The town of Santa Maria da Feira, with its historic centre and markets.

Visiting the castle

The castle is in the centre of Santa Maria da Feira, south of Porto. Opening hours are published by the municipality, so check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-feira.pt.

Image credit: Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira, by Carlasfonseca, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.