If you are planning to take a Douro River cruise, you are in for a real treat. There are so many different things to see in Spain and Portugal that you will be wondering what to do next. Perhaps one of the main attractions though is the city of Lamego in Portugal.

This city is one that is steeped deep in history, culture, and in the heritage of the area. A visit to Lamego will allow you to see several things first-hand that you have probably never seen before, such as the Gothic Cathedral, and even the Sao Pedro de Balsemao Chapel, which is a Visigothic chapel that is believed by many to be not only the oldest in Portugal, but the second oldest of its kind in Europe.

If you are lucky enough to visit this amazing place during your Douro River tour, you should probably know the history behind the town first. This will help you to better understand why the city is how it is, and it will also give you more reason to appreciate the fine architecture and heritage of the area.

In 1143, nobles declared Afonso Henriques Portugal’s first real king. The Gothic Cathedral built in Lamego was originally built by him, though the Romanesque tower, which sits to the left, was actually left there from an existing structure. This was the most significant moment in the history of this town, as the crowning of the first king gave them a “new beginning”, if you will, and forever changed the way things were in the city, as well as in the entire country of Portugal.

So, as you can see, there is a lot of history in this town. Actually, the most important events in the history of Portugal have taken place in Lamego. So if you are planning to embark upon a Douro cruise, you absolutely must go see this shining city while you have the chance. Do not put it off, because you don’t know when, or if ever, you will be coming back. You will probably want to go back, but you know how it is… sometimes we don’t get to do the things we want to do, which is exactly why you must seize the moment and attempt to see Lamego now, on this Douro River cruise you are planning.

Photo of Lamego taken by: Bernt Rostad.

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