Santa Maria da Feira is not very large and is easily reachable from Porto via a daily bus service offering several trips per day.
Its strategic location makes the town a convenient place to stay and explore the surroundings. Besides being close to Porto, Feira is just a ten-minute drive from the beach of Espinho, a tourist spot for surfing enthusiasts. To reach the ocean, there is also a train or bus that takes about 30 minutes to bring you to the Portuguese beaches.
Castle of Santa Maria da Feira
The town is especially known for its main monument, the “Castle of Santa Maria da Feira.” The Castle of Feira is considered one of the most imposing constructions in all medieval military architecture throughout Portugal.
The castle stands on a hill surrounded by greenery and is reachable on foot from the town center. The primary architectural style is Gothic, but over time the building has undergone various influences. Today, the structure is still very well maintained and almost entirely intact. It is possible to take a tour inside the walls by paying a ticket of only 3 euros. Upon entering, you find yourself facing a courtyard that leads to the castle’s main entrance.
The fortress walls protecting the entire structure are very fascinating. Moreover, from the walls, you can admire part of the town of Feira and the surrounding valley. From the main entrance, you enter a large hall where a screen displays the history of the castle. Proceeding to the left side of the hall, there is an exit that, besides leading outside to the right side of the castle, offers two more options: going down into a kind of basement or going up to the upper rooms of the building.
The basement houses the cistern for collecting rainwater. Going up the stairs leads to the upper hall, the main room, very spacious and characterized by three large fireplaces and a wood oven. From the main hall, you can climb to the mezzanine where, on the sides, there are marble benches to sit on and admire glimpses of the exterior of the castle through stone “windows.” From the mezzanine, you can exit onto the terrace, where several posts for military sentinels are located. Outside the castle, specifically on the opposite side of the entrance, there is a small lawn with two medieval war machines.
Medieval Journey in the land of Santa Maria
But Feira’s medieval spirit is not only due to the presence of the Castle. In fact, every August a unique event much awaited by Feira’s citizens and beyond takes place. Called “Viagem Medievale em terra de Santa Maria,” the event lasts ten days, during which the entire population participates in costume to help bring the medieval era back to life. The event is divided into themed places and areas; here are those of the 2014 event:
- Knight’s Inn
- King’s Archer
- St. George’s Baths
- King’s Castle
- Falconry
- Convent
- Stable of the horses
- Market
- Medieval journey gardens
- Lake of enchantments
- Liça
- Forest magic
- Paper mill
- Military order
- Moments of medieval life
- Little artists
- Little warriors
- City
- Elvas Square
- Camera square
- Warrior’s path
- Ascent of the battlements
- Shuk
- Squires training
- Castle route
- Music in the chapel
- Castle village
- Exhibition: Images of the journey
In each of these places, the atmosphere of the medieval period is recreated with games, competitions, and shows that truly evoke the historical context.
The event is meticulously organized, and the website is very well maintained. Inside, it is possible to find all the information about the event, accommodation options, and tickets. Only by participating in the event can one truly understand the medieval atmosphere.
Among other things, we recommend visiting the Europarque of Santa Maria da Feira, a green park just four kilometers from the city center.
The Portuguese nightlife
Regarding nightlife, the town offers a good weekend “movida,” with several small but nice venues offering various music genres, all within walking distance from the historic center. We suggest visiting in August during the “Viagem Medievale,” so you can enjoy warm weather, ideal for also heading to the sea and trying the surf experience.
