Heart of Viana Filigree Pendant
The 300-year-old symbol of Portuguese love, from the goldsmith villages that still hand-twist it.
Price: 95 EUR (Mid-size gold-plated 925 silver filigree Viana heart pendant; solid silver from ~€40, 19.2kt gold versions €400+)
Where to buy: Ourivesarias in Viana do Castelo and Porto (Rua das Flores); workshops concentrate in Gondomar and Póvoa de Lanhoso — ask for 'filigrana feita à mão'
Price checked 2026-07-03
- Hand-twisted wire filigree takes dozens of hours; machine-stamped lookalikes flood souvenir shops — real filigree shows individual soldered threads under a loupe, not molded texture
- Portuguese gold is 19.2kt (80% purity), higher than most of Europe — hallmarks are your authenticity guarantee
- Gold pieces count toward India's ₹50,000 allowance; keep the invoice and hallmark certificate