The façade is a must for any visitor to Viana do Castelo.

The imposing granite staircase, with centuries of history to tell, takes guests all the way from the shadowy hall to the airy top floor and its impressive skylight.

The house is decorated with family pieces of furniture and ceramics ranging from the Ming dynasty to locally crafted wares.

Portraits adorning the walls of the lounge show some of the ancestors including that of Pedro José da Costa Barros, who was governor of Fortaleza, Brazil in the early 19th century.

Of the interesting artifacts to be found in the house, the royal scroll which granted the Costa Barros family its coat of arms is housed in the library.

On the first floor, a rusty trunk which has to be opened with three different keys would surely have many tales to tell of its journeys to far-off lands!

In traditional Portuguese style, most of the beds have been carved with no flat surfaces, to avoid the devil from tormenting your dreams. Moreover, it is still possible to sleep in a narrow Indo-Portuguese bed where one of the Kings of Portugal slept on a visit to Viana do Castelo.

Here are some more pictures of this magnificent house ...

FAÇADE

MAIN HALL

BEDROOMS

BREAKFAST ROOM & LOUNGE