The port house is a 15th-century building that was recently restored to provide an exhibition area, and in it visitors can see part of the archaeological remains in the town, from prehistoric times to the formation of the Portuguese nationality (12th and 13th centuries) until the emergence of the city of Viana do Castelo. A multimedia area allows visitors to learn about the town's origins, including the Celtic settlement of Sitania de Santa Luzia, the medieval tombs of Santa Maria de Jerez de Lima, and the Cariso inscriptions.