Valenca

About

Dating back to Roman times, there’s still a Roman milestone marking the XLII mile of the road connecting Braga to Tui inside the city’s fortified walls. During the 12th century, King Sancho I ordered the stronghold populated, naming it Contrasta, meaning "village opposed to another", in this case, the Spanish town of Tui. In the 13th century, King Afonso III changed its name to Valença. The successfully resisted multiple sieges by both Spanish and French forces. Today, a walk along the expansive series of fortifications shows visitors just why the city was such an effective defence, while its streets offer well preserved architecture dating back to the 12th century. The Romanesque Church of St. Mary combines simple architecture with ornate baroque ornamentation. For the best view of the city, visitors are encourage to take a short trip across the Eiffel Tower inspired bridge to Tui.