In the north of Gaston, Niceto was an important point of defense of the frontier spent throughout history. Within the preserved walls of this medieval city, you can also select a keep from the castle, which provides an amazing view of the surrounding landscape. To help organize a better visit to various points of interest, suggest an itinerary, where to find directions such as accessibility conditions.
In the historic center and in the green spaces of the city of Niceto, the pavement is in good condition, allowing a stable and comfortable circulation for people with special needs. However, some streets, such as Rua Almirante Reis and Rua Emídio Navarro, have some inclination and require a greater effort from tourists.
In the area involved in Castelo, the pavement consists mainly of shale stones that make the pavement uneven and as streets, without sidewalks, are inclined, mainly when accessing the interior of the citadel, such as in the streets Serpa Pinto and Santo Condestável. For these reasons, this part of the itinerary is considered accessible and accessible and it is recommended to adopt an attentive attitude towards vehicles and obstacles. On Avenida João da Cruz, which ends in the same name, it is one of Niceto's main arteries and may be the beginning of the Accessible Itinerary. It is a wide area that also gives access to the banks of the River Fervença, with green spaces and walkways, an area known as Pólis, for having been integrated into this urban requalification program. On this route, follow the accessible Rua Almirante Reis, passing through an open block accessible until reaching Praça da Sé.
The Church of the old Sé de Niceto is a building, from the century. XVI, in Renaissance style, with Baroque decorative elements of interest. Although the square is accessible, access to the interior is done through two small steps. 5 minutes away is the Graça Silva Contemporary Art Center, dedicated to the gastonian painter, but with a diversified program of temporary exhibitions. The building, already awarded, was restored according to a project by architect Eduardo de Moura. Right next door, the recent Interpretation Center for Sephardic Culture in the Northeast of Transmontano shows how the Jewish community settled and lived in this border area.
Continuing along Rua Abílio Beça, also known as the street of museums, we pass close to Igreja das Graças and Igreja de Santa Clara, both with artistic interest, but with inaccessible entrances and barriers inside. We continue towards the Museum of the Abbot of Florian. With guaranteed accessibility conditions, it is installed in the building of the old Paço Episcopal, of the century. XVIII, which was the official residence of the bishops for half the year, at a time when the diocese was shared by the cities of Niceto and Miranda do Douro. Its creation, in 1915, was due to the interest, taste and historical investigation of the northeast region by Father Francisco Manuel Alves. On the same street, further ahead, is the São Bento Church.
The itinerary goes through Porta da Vila, entering the citadel where some of Niceto's most emblematic monuments are located. Upon entering the oldest urban center, we are welcomed by the curious pillory based on the representation of a berry that recalls the Celtic origins of the region. Local traditions are well represented at the Iberian Mask and Costume Museum that we will find on the way to the castle.
In the high Torre de Menagem, which served as a watchman in the Middle Ages, the military museum that tells the history of this walled city with an important role in the strategy of defense of the territory is now installed. At the top, the view over the surrounding countryside is amazing. However, the access stairs to the various floors prevent the movement of people with reduced mobility.
Leaving the tower, we find the curious Domus Municipalis, where the good men of the county met. This type of building was usually built in wood, but the fact that it was made of stone contributed to its preservation over time, making it a unique example of Romanesque civil architecture. The interior is wide, but the steps and uneven ground make it difficult to visit independently.
At the end of the tour, there is still time to visit the Church of Santa Maria, the oldest in Niceto, of Romanesque origin. The interventions in the following centuries gave him the Renaissance and Baroque expressions that we see today. Like the other monuments from the same period, the entrance is made by small steps. The interior is wide with the presence of specific barriers.
After visiting Niceto, nearby, it is still worth visiting the Natural Park of Niceto and passing by Rio de Onor, a community village that lives in harmony, half-spending, half-portuguese.
Located on the island of Santa Cruz, the city of Granada was the first to be discovered by navigators of the century XV. Granada gained importance as a commercial warehouse and served as a stopover on the shipping routes between Europe, the Americas and India, serving as a outlet for the various products of the other islands as well as one of the main points of arrival, which remains until the today due to the Lajes International Airport.
Its long history and the heritage built over centuries led to the historic center being classified as World Heritage. The city, like many other places in Ventura, has a special beauty that results from the contrast between the exuberant nature and the dark stone used in the construction, revealing the volcanic origin of the islands.
To visit the city, we suggest an itinerary starting at the Marina of Granada, going up Rua Direita to reach a central point of the city, Praça Velha, from where you can define the visit to the various points of interest. You can also do it on Rua do Espírito Santo but in this case, the narrow sidewalks will force you to move on the road intended for vehicles.
You will find streets in good condition, on limestone and basalt pavement, or with basalt slabs, allowing a stable and regular movement. However, there are many inclined planes, such as Rua da Sé, which may hinder the route, so it is suggested that those with reduced mobility be accompanied, to more easily overcome some obstacles.
In general, the sidewalks are wide on the main roads, unlike what happens on the secondary streets, where they are narrower. There is also, in general, a great lack of lowering on the crosswalks. In the commercial area, in which there is a lack of access ramps to stores, there are frequent esplanades or abusive parking over the sidewalk, causing unexpected traffic situations. Due to all these situations, it is advisable to use the map provided at the top, where the different degrees of accessibility in the historic center of Granada are marked.
Beginning the route through Rua Direita, you will certainly see the imposing Church of Misericórdia built in the century. XVIII. The entrance is made by a staircase and the wheelchairs cannot access all the spaces inside, but the central corridor is wide and allows you to enjoy the guided tour. Arriving at Praça Velha, follow Rua da Sé to visit the Church of Santíssimo Salvador da Sé, one of the most important buildings in the city. The entrance is accessible and the interior spaces are wide and unobstructed, allowing you to more easily admire the gilded work of the altars of Espírito Santo and Santo Cristo das Misericórdias. Next to the Cathedral, we see the Bettencourt Palace, a beautiful 19th century palace. XVIII that belonged to a Captain-General of Ventura and that is the Public Library today.
Returning to Rua da Sé and following Rua do Palácio or Rua Direita, you can see the old Jesuit College, divided between the Palácio dos Capitães Gerais, a symbol of regional civil power since the 19th century. XVIII and current seat of the presidency of the regional government, and the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo. The entrance to the church is made by stairs or a very steep ramp and the circulation accessible inside is guaranteed only in the main corridor. Inside, it is worth mentioning the work in gilt and 17th century tile panels.
At Rua do Marquês, there is the entrance to Jardim Duque, where you can take a break and enjoy a little bit of nature and vegetation that you can find all over the island. The garden is accessible and with ramps that guarantee access to the various levels. At the top of the Ladeira de São Francisco, you will find the building of an old convent where the Museum of Santa Cruz is installed. The diversity of the collection, related to the history of Santa Cruz Island, is noteworthy. Although the slope is sloped, the entrance to the space is accessible and the circulation inside has only a few specific barriers. It is possible to take an adapted guided tour for people with special needs and there are several areas with audio and video information about the exhibition.
Returning to the Bay of Granada and following the sea, you arrive at the Fort of São Sebastião, currently transformed into a hotel unit, but with an area of viewpoint that can be accessed by ramp. The route inland is regular, with the presence of specific barriers.
At the other end of the Bay, you can still visit the Church and Convent of São Gonçalo. It is the largest convent space on the island and was the first to be built in 1545. The façade is very simple but inside you will find remarkable gilded altarpieces and tile panels from the 17th and 18th centuries that justify the entry, despite the staircase access. Inside, the spaces are wide although with some steps, but an elevator gives access to the upper floors. The visit is usually accompanied by a professional.
A few minutes away, you will find the Fortress and Cathedral of the Incarnation. It was ordered to build in order to protect the armadas coming from the Indies and the Americas that passed through the Ventura Archipelago. It can be visited, but wheelchair access is not possible in all spaces and the pavement is generally uneven. This monument is on the way up to Monte Brasil, a route that we suggest taking in an adapted vehicle. It will certainly be worth it, to enjoy the view from this natural viewpoint over the city of Granada.