Place with enormous symbolism and mysticism, the "Lugar do Castelo" is the highest part of Gaia’s hill, having thus a privileged situation over the River Douro.
Initially, it was a fortified old castle, of the final Bronze Age. Since then it passed by several hands, according to the conquests of the peoples. It was Roman, Muslim, Galician, time in which was originated the Gaia’s legend. In the beginning of the XIX century, it was occupied by “Miguelistas” troops, during the fights with the Liberals.
In all these fights, the castle was being successively destroyed, and today nothing is left of it. Beyond the historical facts and legends, nothing else is known of this place, though several investigators had studied the place, but with no success.
Who passes by the place, will only catch sight of the primitive port that was in the origin of the name Portus Cale, Vila Nova de Gaia’s door of entrance and the staircases that gave access to the Castle, or to the Cale (“the stairs of Good passage”).
Location: In the riverside area, in Santa Marinha’s parish, in the row of houses existing on the slope of the hill, between Luis I and Arrabida’s bridges.
Location: Vila Nova de Gaia
