Tui was originally a Roman settlement called Tude, perched on top of a hill beside the Minho River and looking to Portugal on the far bank. And it has all the characteristics you would expect to find in an old town – narrow and winding streets, walls, fortifications, and plenty of churches! I should have spent more time wandering about the streets.
The street above led us past the ruins of a prison where old walls were clearly visible. There were apparently two sets of walls: those of the 12C and another set built in the 15C. It was clearly an important town, with impressive mansions and many plaques or coats of arms on the walls.
TheCathedral of Tui is extraordinary and I will post separately, but there were plenty of other churches, convents, and monasteries, of which we only caught a glimpse. The Chapel of St Telmo, built on the site of the house where the saint died in the 13C, is the only example of Portuguese Baroque architecture in Spain.
The Convent of Santa Clara (the Poor Clares) was founded in 1524 and is a closed order. The ‘Tunnel of the Nuns’ was also a gateway into the town in the 12C.
The Church and Convent of Santa Domingo date from 1329 and were originally outside the walls of the town, but later incorporated. Today some of the old wall is alongside the Convent, with a gate. This church was the mausoleum for important families in the town.
And finally, a fountain from the 12C
You may be interested in
Tui and here and here (in translation) and here
A little article about one of the gates – you will need a translator!
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