Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Minho

The Minho River froms the border Between Portugal and Spain. So here is spanish Tui seen from Portugese Valença. Tui had a bishop's see as early as 5th century and developed well. Within the 10th/11th century it was raided by Vikings and Maurs, so the "Catedral de Santa Maria" in Tui seems to be a fortresse.

Probably founded between 1110 and 1130 by the local nobility, Augustine Canons lived in the Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Landim. The former convent´s church was largely remodeled within the 16th century. Today the church and the remaining (well restored) buildings are a favourite place for wedding parties. www.mosteirodelandim.com/

The Igreja de Arnoso Santa Maria, just south of Braga, is tiled with "azulejos", glazed tiles, that give it a distinctive, very "Portuguese" look. The blue/while tiles can be found on many buildings in Northern Portugal.

The gothic cloister of the cathedral in Tui is a very quiet place.

Legends tell that St. James preached here. The town had a bishop's see as early as 5th century and developed well. Within the 10th/11th century it was raided by Vikings and Maurs, so it is no wonder, that the "Catedral de Santa Maria" in Tui (Tuy) seems to be a fortresse still today. The church was consecrated 1225 and is a mixture between romanesque and gothic style.

I had the impression, that the restaurant upstairs closed already some decades ago, Rooms were still offered.

Standing on the "International Bridge". The Rio Minho is the border between Portugal an Spain. Tui, the "first" town in Spain is clearly dominated by the cathedral on the hill.

Valença even today seems to be more a fortress, than a town. The knoll, on which the town was built rises up from the Rio Minho, the border between Portugal and Spain. The town is surrounded by a massive fortification using many ramparts. It took about a century, to build up all this and what it is seen today is the state of 1713, when the works finally finished.