Tourism

Muralha (Sul)

The southern gate of the walls of Miranda do Douro is one of the ancient entrances to the historic town, situated within the walled area that once enclosed the medieval centre. Built of stone, it features a round arch and remains of the ancient battlements and defensive towers that once protected the town. This gate served to control the flow of people and goods, ensuring security within the town walls. Today, the southern entrance stands as a testament to Miranda do Douro’s fortified past, forming part of the town’s tourist and historical trail.

Postigo da Barca

During the Middle Ages, the town of Miranda had only two entrance gates: one to the north and one to the west. However, when it became an episcopal city in 1545, relations with Spain necessitated the opening of a third gate, the Postigo, so named because it was smaller than the others, consisting of a pointed arch, designed to allow quicker access by boat via the River Douro, from which it takes its name. This work was funded by the first Bishop of Miranda, Turíbio Lopes, who also commissioned the construction of the pavement leading to the banks of the River Douro.

Igreja da Misericórdia

The Igreja da Misericórdia, built in the 16th century and renovated in the 17th, has a rectangular plan comprising a single nave and a chancel, with an administrative office adjoining the left-hand side façade, opening onto the nave via a gallery. The main façade is in stonework, executed by Belchior Fernandes, defined by pilasters crowned with pinnacles, and topped by a gable truncated by a bell tower, although the 1687 design had specified a triple bell tower, which was abandoned by the trustees as it was deemed neither ‘decent’ nor common in the Misericórdias of the region. It is pierced by a Mannerist portal, with a round arch between columns supporting an entablature, surmounted by a niche, conches and pinnacles, and two side windows, already of Baroque design. The portal replaced the original one, which was not central to the church. The interior features a high choir, built in 1766, a gallery on the Gospel side, with a lowered span resting on pilasters; on the ground floor are the granary and a storeroom; a facing pulpit, with a stone basin and a wooden balustrade railing; two deep side chapels and two shallow ones at the head of the nave, with gilded and polychrome carved altarpieces, in Baroque and Neoclassical styles.The chapel of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte has a polychrome carved altarpiece in the Neoclassical style, of great decorative richness, with an inscription on the intrados of the arch. The altarpiece of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia is Baroque, in the national style, but also features Mannerist elements, particularly the figures depicted on the panel. The Altarpiece of the Souls, in gilded woodcarving, is Baroque and features an interesting composition of souls being rescued from the mouth of the Devil, portrayed as a black monster; it also bears an inscription on the chapel’s arch. The high altarpiece is also Baroque, in the national style, richly carved and featuring an interesting image of the Holy Christ of Mercy; it also reveals excellent woodcarving and, at the same time, an unusual upper finial incorporating painted panels.

Homenagem aos Mirandeses

The primary objective of a sculpture by António Nobre, to be placed in D. João III square, the "visiting room" of the city of Miranda do Douro, is to pay homage to the rural people of the Terra de Miranda region. The investment is around 60 thousand euros, and it’s the responsibility of the local municipality. The ensemble is composed of two bronze figures in a pose of dialogue. One of the pieces represents a typical rural Mirandese woman, wearing the traditional attire used in the region. The sculptor, a native of Sendim, didn’t spare details, as is the case with the shawl or the headscarf tied on the head and the traditional "mandil" on the shoulders. The Mirandese figure also carries saddlebags, a typical element for those who wanted to buy or sell in the popular markets of the Mirandese city. The second figure represents the city man wrapped in his traditional ’cape of honor’. Preserving clothing According to António Nobre, this ensemble can offer several interpretations from various sectors of local ethnography, such as the characters’ clothing. On the other hand, the Mirandese man was a shepherd, an ox driver, or a farmer, and for this reason, he needed to travel to fairs to acquire what he needed for daily life. On the other hand, he would meet with friends (hence the figures are in a pose of dialogue) or pay taxes at the county seat. Furthermore, the goal is to perpetuate a disappearing tradition, highlighting the typical Mirandese attire and other elements, such as the traditional "bardeiros," brooms made of corn widely used in the region’s kitchens. The two pieces are three times larger than a normal citizen and have already been cast in bronze, currently in the assembly phase. The figures will spend about two weeks in the rain so that the bronze’s tone becomes as refined as possible, while the inauguration of the ensemble is scheduled for February.

Capela de Santa Cruz

The Capela de Santa Cruz, located in Miranda do Douro, is a small Baroque-style chapel that forms part of the town’s religious heritage. With a simple, longitudinal layout, it features a single nave and a rectangular chancel, complemented by an equally modest sacristy. The façade, built of dressed stone, is gable-ended and features a round-arched portal, framed by Doric pilasters supporting an entablature of the same style, topped by a broken triangular pediment.

Torre (Norte)

Barbacã Moderna

From the late Middle Ages onwards, new firearms began to be used, forcing the town to respond with new defensive structures as well. Designed solely for medieval projectile weapons, the defences at the city’s main entrance had to be reinforced with a second barbacã, adapted for the use of defensive artillery, whose round-arched gates were flanked by loopholes, shaped like embrasures, which allowed the approach to the city to be swept with low-flying fire.

Torre (Sul)

Muralha (Entrada Principal)

The main gate in the walls of Miranda do Douro, situated in the town’s historic quarter, is an imposing remnant of the ancient medieval fortifications that once protected the town. Built of granite, this gate features a round arch and a sturdy portal, designed to control access to the town within the walls.

Muralha (Norte)

The medieval wall of Miranda do Douro, together with its castle and fortified gates, formed the defensive perimeter of the old town. The northern entrance, near the outer section of the wall, marks one of the former access points to the town within the walls. Over the centuries, the urban layout running along the north and west sides of the wall has become a modern thoroughfare — streets such as the one running alongside the north wall and the road outside the historic area still mark the boundary between the medieval centre and the more recent expansion.