Tourist Activities

Wel­come to IMWA 2025, where bey­ond the con­fer­ence you can explore the stun­ning nat­ur­al beauty of Por­tugal and Spain, the rich cul­tur­al her­it­age and vibrant loc­al attrac­tions that make these des­tin­a­tions a must for any trav­el­er.

Visit Braga

Braga, often called the “Rome of Por­tugal”, is a city where his­tory, spir­itu­al­ity, and vibrant mod­ern life con­verge in per­fect har­mony. Begin your jour­ney at the Sanc­tu­ary of Bom Jesus do Monte, a UNESCO World Her­it­age Site renowned for its breath­tak­ing baroque stair­way, serene gar­dens, and pan­or­amic views of the region. Dive into the city’s rich past at the Braga Cathed­ral, the old­est in Por­tugal, where Romanesque, Goth­ic, and Baroque styles blend to cre­ate an archi­tec­tur­al mas­ter­piece. Stroll through the Praça da República, the lively heart of the city, sur­roun­ded by charm­ing cafes, tra­di­tion­al shops, and icon­ic foun­tains.

For his­tory enthu­si­asts, the Roman ruins of Bra­cara Augusta offer a glimpse into Braga’s ori­gins as a Roman set­tle­ment. Art lov­ers can immerse them­selves in loc­al cre­ativ­ity at the Museu Nogueira da Silva, fea­tur­ing exquis­ite col­lec­tions of art and dec­or­at­ive pieces. Nature enthu­si­asts will find peace in the lush sur­round­ings of the Santa Bar­bara Garden, a hid­den gem per­fect for quiet moments. Don’t miss the Sanc­tu­ary of Our Lady of Sameiro, anoth­er spir­itu­al site that offers stun­ning views and a sense of tran­quil­ity.

To top it all off, Braga’s wel­com­ing loc­als, vibrant fest­ivals, and deli­cious cuisine – from hearty “bac­al­hau à Braga” to sweet “tíbi­as de Braga” – will make your vis­it unfor­get­table. Wheth­er you’re seek­ing his­tory, cul­ture, spir­itu­al­ity, or simply a warm and invit­ing atmo­sphere, Braga is a des­tin­a­tion that will cap­ture your heart and inspire your soul.

Braga Inform­a­tion

Visit Oviedo

Oviedo, the cap­it­al of Asturi­as in north­ern Spain, is a city of time­less charm, rich cul­ture, and cap­tiv­at­ing his­tory. Start your jour­ney at the Cathed­ral of San Sal­vador, a Goth­ic mas­ter­piece hous­ing rel­ics that draw pil­grims from around the world. Just a short walk away, explore the Old Town with its cobble­stone streets, his­tor­ic build­ings, and cozy plazas that tell the story of cen­tur­ies past. Don’t miss the Cam­poamor Theatre, where the pres­ti­gi­ous Prin­cess of Asturi­as Awards take place each year.

For a taste of Asturi­an tra­di­tion, vis­it the El Fontán Mar­ket, a lively hub filled with loc­al products, artis­an­al goods, and the region’s fam­ous cider. Art and his­tory enthu­si­asts will love the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturi­as, home to works by Goya, Picas­so, and Dalí. A vis­it to Oviedo would­n’t be com­plete without see­ing the Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo, pre-Romanesque gems perched on Monte Naranco with breath­tak­ing views of the city.

Take a leis­urely stroll through the Campo de San Fran­cisco, a lush urb­an park per­fect for relax­ing or enjoy­ing loc­al life. Indulge in Asturi­an cuisine at a tra­di­tion­al sidrer­ía, pair­ing deli­cious dishes like “fabada asturi­ana” with refresh­ing cider poured in the unique Asturi­an style. Oviedo’s vibrant blend of cul­ture, his­tory, and hos­pit­al­ity makes it a des­tin­a­tion that cap­tures your heart and leaves you long­ing for more.

Oviedo Inform­a­tion

Places to visit near Braga

Guimarães, known as the “Birth­place of Por­tugal”, is a city that exudes charm, his­tory, and a deep sense of nation­al pride. Begin your explor­a­tion at the Guimarães Castle, a medi­ev­al fort­ress steeped in legend, where the story of Por­tugal’s found­a­tion began. Nearby, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza awaits, a grand 15th-cen­tury res­id­ence filled with fas­cin­at­ing arti­facts and strik­ing archi­tec­ture. Wander through the His­tor­ic Cen­ter, a UNESCO World Her­it­age Site, where cobble­stone streets, charm­ing squares, and beau­ti­fully pre­served build­ings trans­port you to anoth­er era.

Guimaraes Inform­a­tion

Ponte de Lima, Portugal’s old­est vil­lage, is a treas­ure trove of his­tory, cul­ture, and nat­ur­al beauty wait­ing to be explored. Begin your jour­ney at the icon­ic Roman Bridge, an archi­tec­tur­al mas­ter­piece that spans the Lima River, offer­ing breath­tak­ing views and a con­nec­tion to the past. Stroll through the pic­tur­esque His­tor­ic Cen­ter, where charm­ing cobble­stone streets, medi­ev­al houses, and invit­ing cafes cre­ate an atmo­sphere of time­less charm.

Ponte de Lima Inform­a­tion

Porto, the vibrant “Cid­ade Invicta”, is a cap­tiv­at­ing blend of his­tor­ic charm, mod­ern energy, and breath­tak­ing beauty. Start your adven­ture at the Ribeira Dis­trict, a UNESCO World Her­it­age Site, where col­or­ful build­ings line the Douro River, and bust­ling cafes invite you to soak up the city’s lively atmo­sphere. Cross the icon­ic Dom Luís I Bridge for stun­ning views and a con­nec­tion to the wine cel­lars of Vila Nova de Gaia, home to the world-renowned Port wine. Explore the majest­ic Cléri­gos Tower, a sym­bol of Porto, where a climb to the top rewards you with pan­or­amic views of the city. Don’t miss the Liv­rar­ia Lello, one of the most beau­ti­ful book­stores in the world, where his­tory and lit­er­ary magic meet. Step into the Porto Cathed­ral, a mas­ter­piece of Romanesque archi­tec­ture that offers a glimpse into the city’s spir­itu­al her­it­age.

Porto Inform­a­tion

Day Trip Suggestions

A relaxing day in Braga

Morn­ing

• Start your day at the Sanc­tu­ary of Bom Jesus do Monte, climb­ing the icon­ic baroque stair­case or tak­ing the funicu­lar.
• Vis­it the Braga Cathed­ral, Portugal’s old­est, to admire its stun­ning archi­tec­ture.

After­noon

• Stroll through the his­tor­ic Largo do Paço and enjoy lunch at a loc­al res­taur­ant, try­ing the tra­di­tion­al “Bac­al­hau à Braga”.
• Relax in the Santa Bar­bara Garden, sur­roun­ded by beau­ti­ful flowers and medi­ev­al ruins.

Even­ing

• Enjoy a leis­urely walk through the Praça da República with its charm­ing foun­tains and cafes.

A relaxing day in Guimarães

Morn­ing

• Explore the Guimarães Castle, the birth­place of Por­tugal, and learn about the nation’s his­tory.
• Vis­it the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, an impress­ive 15th-cen­tury res­id­ence with fas­cin­at­ing arti­facts.

After­noon

• Wander through the UNESCO-lis­ted His­tor­ic Cen­ter and enjoy a meal at a tra­di­tion­al eat­ery.
• Vis­it the icon­ic Largo da Oli­veira, sur­roun­ded by medi­ev­al archi­tec­ture and lively cafes.

Even­ing

• Take a short hike or drive to the Penha Moun­tain for pan­or­amic views and a peace­ful retreat.

A relaxing day in Ponte de Lima

Morn­ing

• Drive to Ponte de Lima and start with a walk across the icon­ic Roman Bridge, admir­ing its stun­ning views of the Lima River.
• Vis­it the Terra de Ponte de Lima Museum to learn about the vil­lage’s rich his­tory.

After­noon

• Enjoy lunch at a river­side res­taur­ant and try loc­al del­ic­acies like “Arroz de Sar­rab­ulho”.
• Stroll through the Arnado Park, explor­ing its themed gar­dens.

Even­ing

• Take in the charm of the Largo de Camões and soak in the vil­lage’s tran­quil atmo­sphere.

A relaxing day in Porto

Morn­ing

• Begin your day in the Ribeira Dis­trict, a UNESCO World Her­it­age Site, and explore its col­or­ful streets along the Douro River.
• Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia and tour one of the fam­ous Port wine cel­lars, sampling the region’s sig­na­ture wine.

After­noon

• Return to Porto and Climb the Cléri­gos Tower for pan­or­amic views of the city.
• Vis­it the fam­ous Liv­rar­ia Lello, a must-see for book and archi­tec­ture lov­ers.

Even­ing

• Head to the Porto Cathed­ral, a mas­ter­piece of Romanesque archi­tec­ture.
• Enjoy a sun­set cruise along the Douro River, admir­ing the city and its icon­ic bridges.