Vila Franca de Xira, a city of about 130,000 just 30km northeast of Lisbon, is probably best known for it bull-running festival in October, as a gateway to a vast area of marshlands that border the Tagus River, and EVOA, the Tagus Estuary Birdwatching and Conservation Area.

It also has an extraordinary train station, whose front and back facades feature a series of ornate hand-painted tiles that depict local agricultural scenes. A stunning station, just 30 minutes from Lisbon on the North line.

A couple more photos and a short video below.

Photos and video from 4 October 2025.