Caminha is a municipality in the northwest of Portugal, located in the district of Viana do Castelo. The municipality has a total area of 137,4 km² and is divided into 20 parishes, including Vila Praia de Ancora, Moledo, and Vilar de Mouros. The latter is known for the oldest rock festival in Portugal.
Caminha is located 2 km from the Atlantic Ocean, on the southern side of the Miño estuary, where this river met by the small and winding Coura. Here the Miño reaches its widest point (about 2 km) and marks the border between Portugal and Spain.
The area is of great scenic beauty, with the wide estuary marked by sandbanks at low tide, a pastoral rural landscape and greens, and pine forests on the slopes of the granitic mountains is increasingly popular for second homes and as a place to summer vacation.
And among its tourist attractions is the great parish church (begun in 1488) which is one of the most significant buildings that illustrate the transition from Gothic to Renaissance in Portugal, with Manueline influence. Several architects from the north of Spain participated in its long construction. The sloping wooden ceiling inside has rich decoration showing Moorish influences (Mudejar style).
Other points of great interest are the main square (Renaissance fountain from 1551), several Gothic and Renaissance houses in the old town, and remains of fortifications. Some pre-Roman archaeological finds and ethnographic pieces are displayed in the modest Municipal Museum.
The Atlantic beaches in the area are wide and have good sand but tend to be windy during part of the day, Moledo beach attracts surfers.
On the wooded slopes of the north is the small monastery of S. João de Arga (popular place for picnics, camping and exploring the peaks and streams, also home to a religious festival) and the town of Castanheira (scenic terraces and swimming pools natural). The weekly market is held every Wednesday.