page_title: Valença, Portugal
section_title: Attractions
hierarchical_section_title: Valença, Portugal / Attractions
caption_attribution_description: Valença, in the north of Portugal
context_page_description: Valença, also known as Valença do Minho, is a municipality and a town in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 14,127, in an area of 117.13 km².
  Valença officially became a city on 12 June 2009. The municipality is located in Viana do Castelo District. The present Mayor is Jorge Mendes, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is 18 February.
context_section_description: The fortress
  The most interesting things to visit are mainly inside the fortress that looks down to the Minho River and Galicia. They have been destroyed several times whether it were the Barbarians, the Moors, the armies of Asturias and Leon or even the French troops in the 19th century, they have always been restored and still very well preserved.
  Valença's fortress is a piece of gothic and baroque military architecture. The first walls were built in the 13th century. It was upgraded during the 17th and 18th century forming the present bulwarked system. It is placed on top of two small hills and it is formed by two polygons (the Recinto Magistral and the Coroada) separated by a ditch and with four doors (Coroada, Gaviarra, Fonte da Vila and Sol). The main entrance is Porta do Sol (Sun's door). This door was damaged during the Napoleonic invasions.
  The old international bridge
  In 1879 Portugal and Spain agreed to construct a bi-functional (road and train) bridge. The bridge was built inspired in Eiffel works. The bridge is still in use although a new bridge was built south of the older one.
  Roman milestone
  Located inside the fortress this Roman milestone dates back from the 1st century AD. It has the following inscription:
  TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS CAESER AUGUSTUS GERMANICUS PONTIFEX MAXIMUS. IMPERATOR V CONSUL III, TRIBUNICIA POTESTATE III. PATER PATRIAE BRACARA XLII.
  It marks 42 Roman miles' (62 km) distance on the road from Braga to Tui and the Emperor Claudius ordered its construction when the Via IV of Antonine was rebuilt.
  Church of Saint Stephen
  A romanic church built during the 13th century and a neo-classic rebuilt during the 18th century. Inside several panels representing scenes Saint Stephen life can be admired.
  Church of Saint Mary of Angels
  Romanic church built during the 12th century. The popular decoration and the ceiling are the eye-catcher.
  The cannons
  Along the north wall several old cannons very well maintained are positioned pointing to the river and Galicia as if to remind of their old purpose.
  Statue of São Teotónio
  São Teotónio was the first Portuguese saint. Born near Valença, in Ganfei, he was the confessor of King Afonso Henriques. He is the village patron saint.
caption: The fortress
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