Renowned for its Baroque architecture, Lamego lies along the Rio Balsemão in the Douro region of Portugal. Its origins date back prior to the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula and is thought to have been the site of the first Portuguese assemblies in the 12th century.
Things to do in Lamego
In the heart of Lamego is Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, a Gothic house of worship that was originally founded in 1129. Admire its ornate facade before stepping inside to see the vaulted interior and colourfully painted ceiling. The cathedral also encompasses a Renaissance cloister and a Baroque chapel with an elaborate altarpiece. On the outskirts of Lamego is the Capela de São Pedro de Balsemão, a Visigothic sanctuary with an impressive sarcophagus.
Occupying the former episcopal palace is the Museu de Lamego, where you’ll find religious treasures, Flemish tapestries and archaeological findings such as medieval tombs. A highlight of the collection is the 20-panel altarpiece painted by Grão Vasco, one of the most famous masters of the Portuguese Renaissance. Reconstructed inside the museum are four chapels from the Chagas Convent.
A short drive north-west of Lamego will take you to Parque Biologico da Serra das Meadas, which provides a sanctuary for protected species that can no longer be returned to the wild. Encompassing 50 hectares, the park is best explored on foot and offers up-close encounters with native Portuguese plant species. Nearby is the Miradouro Da Boa Vista offering magnificent views across Lamego and its rugged surroundings.
Getting around Lamego
Lamego is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Porto and Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe, North Africa and North America. Regular buses connect to Lamego and the city centre is compact enough to explore on foot.