São João da Pesqueira, located on the banks of the Douro River, owes its name to a natural reservoir whose abundance of fish made it a paradise for fishermen, who subsequently named it ‘pesqueira’ (fishing ground).
King Alfonso III (Asturias) conquered the town from the Moors in the 9th century and had it repopulated. Between 1055 and 1065, the town received its first town charter from Ferdinand I (León). São João da Pesqueira received its first town charter in the independent Kingdom of Portugal in 1198 from King Sancho I, which was confirmed in 1376 and renewed in 1510.
1) The Baroque church Igreja da Misericórdia with beautiful azulejos. It was built in the 16th century and houses Baroque altars made of gilded wood (talha dourada) and Rococo altarpieces, among other things. The church portal is right next to the historic hospital.
2) The 16th-century hospital on the town's central square, Praça da República.
3) Romantic alleyways.
4) Gate to the main square from the rear.
5) The market stalls were cleared away as soon as our group left.
6) Rua dos Gatos, the cat alley.
7) Casa do Cabo, Palácio da Justicia.
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