Guimarães

Guimarães is a Portuguese city located in the District of Braga, in the north of the country and sub-region of Ave, in the old province of Minho. It is located 55km north of Porto.
Guimarães is bordered to the north by the municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso, to the east by Fafe, to the south by Felgueiras, Vizela and Santo Tirso, to the west by Vila Nova de Famalicão and to the northwest by Braga.
It is a historical city with a crucial role in the formation of Portugal, which has had more than a millennium since its formation, when it was designated as "Vimaranes". This toponym probably had its origin in Vímara Peres, military chief of the second half of the ninth century, when he made this site the main governing center of the Portucalense County in the name of Alfonso III of Asturias, until the arrival of Count Henry. It was here that he passed away.

Guimarães is one of the most important historical cities of the country, and its historical center is considered Cultural Patrimony of Humanity, making it definitely one of the biggest tourist centers of the region and of the country. Its streets and monuments breathe history and delight those who visit it. It was also the European Capital of Culture in 2012, which led the prestigious New York Times to consider it one of the 41 places to visit that year.
Guimarães is often referred to as "Crib Town" because of the fact that the administrative center of Condado Portucalense was established there by D. Henrique and that his son, D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, was probably born in this city. Also the historical importance of the Battle of São Mamede, fought on the outskirts of the city on June 24 1128, had for the formation of nationality.

Places to visit

Monte da Penha

Monte da Penha is the highest point of Guimarães and from its top, where a statue of Pope Pius IX is located, it is possible to reach magnificent views that can extend to the ocean.
Monte da Penha has several facilities: a camping site, a mini-golf course, a mini-train tour, an equestrian center, walking areas, picnic areas, monuments, caves and belvederes.
You can reach Monte da Penha by car which is 6 km from the historic center, or you can go by cable car which is 1.7 km from Largo das Hortas (5 minutes walk from the city center).
- Round trip ticket: 4.40 €
Opening hours: Open every day from 10 am to 5.30 pm (November, December, January, February and March), from 10 am to 6.30 pm (April, May and October), from 10 am to 7 pm (June, September) and from 10 am to 8 pm in August.

Castle of Guimarães

In the middle of the tenth century, the Countess Mumadona Dias had a monastery built. With constant attacks by the Moors, she decided to build a fortress to protect the monks and the Christian community that lived around it. That is how the primitive Castle of Guimarães appears.
In the 12th century, Count Dom Henrique and Dona Teresa came to live in Guimarães Castle, and Dom Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, was probably born there. After its defensive function, the Castle enters a process of abandonment and progressive degradation until the 20th century, when it is declared a National Monument and restoration works are carried out.
- Entrance 2 € to access the Torre de Menagem.
- Opening Hours: Opens every day from 9.30 am to 6 pm and closes on the following holidays: 1st January, Easter Sunday, 1st May and 25th December.

Palace of the Dukes of Bragança

It was built in the fifteenth century by Dom Afonso, the first Duke of Bragança. In the XIX century it was converted into barracks. In the middle of the 20th century, after a period of abandonment, it was restored and later converted into a Museum, housing a seventeenth and eighteenth century estate.
The palace also performs the noble function of official residence of the President of the Portuguese Republic on the second floor, during his travels to the North of Portugal.
- Admission: € 5
- Opening Hours: Open every day from 9.30 am to 6 pm Closed on the following holidays: 1st January, Easter Sunday, 1st May and 25th December.

Largo das Oliveiras

Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and Padrão do Salado
In this beautiful square you will find the Nossa Senhora da Oliveira church completed in 1387. Besides the Church, you will also see the Padrão do Salado, a historical monument and unique in the country for its shape and architecture. According to tradition, it recalls the victory of Dom Afonso IV on the Moors, in 1340, in the battle of Salado.

Domus Municipalis

Also worthy of note is the Domus Municipalis, an imposing monument that was part of the Municipality at the end of the 14th century, with a porch supported by five Gothic arches, five balconies and a statue on the façade of the building, which represents Guimarães.

Square of Santiago

In this square was located a small chapel of the seventeenth century dedicated to Santiago that was demolished in the late nineteenth century. It is still possible to locate it in the square, since the design of the pavement with granite slabs marks the location of the old chapel.
The square of Santiago today is an attractive place at any time of the day. In it you can walk and enjoy the various terraces and shopping facilities. At night, it is pleasant due to the amusement provided by the establishments that make the square one of the main places of meeting and conviviality between the inhabitants and visitors.

Citânia de Briteiros

The Citânia de Briteiros is an impressive collection of ruins of an important town that lived there for more than 2000 years, in an age known by the archaeologists as Iron Age. It is one of the most expressive proto-historical settlements of the Iberian Peninsula, both for its size and for the monumentality of its walls, urbanism and architecture.
The numerous constructions, of various types, arranged somewhat freely, but obeying a still incipient urban scheme, offer impressive and very objective clues to the knowledge of those people so remote, perched on top of the hills and even protected by Several waists of walls that still can be admired today.
- Admission: € 3
- Schedule: Open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter.

Casa de Sezim (Wine Producer)

The House of Sezim entered into the family of the present owners in 1376, by donation, according to the parchment of that year in the archive of the House. Maria Mendes Serrazinha made a donation to Afonso Martins, a descendant of D. João Freitas and a companion of the King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques - as can be read in this document - "to the good works she has received and hopes to receive and belief that made you."
The beauty of the House, the harmony of its lines, the monumentality of its façade and the collection of panoramic papers from the first half of the nineteenth century housed in its halls have been, in recent years, a source of international curiosity.
In the House of Sezim you can visit the vineyards and the winery where the famous Vinho Verde is produced. The Green Wines of the House of Sezim, were also already much appreciated in the Middle Ages and to them refers a document of 1396.
It is also worth mentioning its location in Minho, next to Guimarães - the first capital of Portugal - in a region of great natural beauty and of historical and artistic interest and not far from the cities of Braga, Porto and the Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport, which is directly connected by motorway. Also not far from the Natural Park of Peneda-Gerês and the beaches of Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim - this one served with a modern golf course.
Opened all year round to tourists, the House offers the choice of eight large and comfortable rooms, and allows the use of two salons,one of which is intended exclusively for visitors and the other prepared for conferences, colloquia and exhibitions.
Tourists can also use the swimming pool, the tennis court as well as the vegetation-rich hills that surround it for them to make the existing footpaths or simply relax and enjoy a glass of wine bottled on the farm.

Gastronomy / Wines / Sweets

Gastronomy

The art of well-cooking and good food is well established in Guimarães. To taste the good regional cuisine, the main dishes are shown in traditional recipes, such as: Roasted kid, roasted cod fish, rojões à Moda do Minho, rice Pica no Chão, roasted veal and turnip soup.

Wines

To accompany, the wines: white green and red, rosé and sparkling, that enlivens all the flavors of the gastronomy.
DOP (Dominação de Origem Protegida -Protected Domination of Origin) Vinho Verde, Ave Sub-region
Varieties - WHITE: Alvarinhoo, Arinto (Pedernã), Loureiro and Trajadura;
Grapes - REDS: Amaral, Borraçal, Espadeiro, Badeiro and Vinhão
Organoleptic Characteristics - Reds have an intense color and a particular vinuous aroma. White and Pink have a fruity and young aroma, associated with an odd freshness.

Confectionery

Of the traditional sweets we highlight the Toucinho do Céu, Torta de Guimarães, douradinhas and the Conventual sweets.