Guimaraes

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Guimarães Travel Guide

Travel Author

Stig Albeck

City Map

City Introduction

Guimarães is a beautiful and interesting Portuguese city located in the Braga district. The city was founded in the 8th century, and it is considered the birthplace of Portugal for several reasons. One of them is because Guimarães was the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, who was Portugal’s first king with the name Alfonso I. It was also in this area that the Battle of São Mamede was fought in 1128 between Afonso Henrique’s troops and his mother’s forces. Afonso won and became first prince and then king of Portugal.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the city encircled by city walls grew. At the beginning of the 15th century, the city walls were torn down, and Guimarães’ then two separate districts were united through further expansion, which became possible when the walls were removed. Over the centuries, churches, monasteries and mansions were built in the city, whose center today stands as an exceptionally well-preserved and fine example of the development of a medieval town into a modern city. And for this reason, Guimarães’ center is included in UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage.

You can enjoy many pleasant walks in the center of Guimarães, and you can, for example, start at the Largo do Toural, which is one of the city’s beautiful squares. Largo do Toural originated as a marketplace in the 17th century, and although it was then outside the main gate to the city, it is considered the center today. At the square is the church Basílica de São Pedro from 1750 and several buildings in the contemporary Pombal style, which in construction techniques often used prefabricated elements.

From Largo do Toural you can walk through the streets of the old town to the church Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, whose history dates back to the year 949. However, today’s beautiful church is the result of later extensions and renovations. Southeast of this is the church Igreja e Oratórios de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos and a long stretch of Guimarães’ old city walls. To the north from here is the city’s beautiful town hall and the church Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

Just north of the city center is the large park named Parque do Castelo e Paço dos Duques de Bragança, home to two of Guimarães’ well-known attractions. One is the Dukes of Braganza Castle or Paço dos Duques de Bragança, a former ducal residence that was built from 1420. The castle was restored in the 1900s and is now a museum. The other is Castelo de Guimarães which was the city’s fortress, built in the Romanesque period and extended in the subsequent Gothic period.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

Porto, Portugal

Porto

Porto is a beautiful city located on the Douro River in northern Portugal. On the hills north and south of the river you can see one beautiful neighborhood after another and there are many sights in several different architectural styles everywhere.

The Praça da Liberdade square forms together with the street Avenida dos Aliados the living center of the city, where many locals and tourists enjoy strolls in beautiful surroundings. In the side streets you can see Porto’s beautiful railway station, the Bolhão market and several other exciting places.

More about Porto

 

Braga, Portugal

Braga

Braga is a city in northern Portugal and is one of the largest cities in the country. Its history dates to the Roman conquest of the region in around 136 BC. In the year 20 BC they founded the city of Bracara Augusta and made it the regional capital. In 283 the city became the capital of the province of Gallaecia, thereby increasing its importance.

Braga was taken by the Moors in 711, and in 868 the area was reconquered by Christians. Braga became an important Christian center on the Iberian Peninsula and later one of the driving forces for an independent Portugal. Later, the city’s archbishops developed Braga after first the Renaissance and then the Baroque era.

More about Braga

Geolocation

In short

Guimarães, Portugal Guimarães, Portugal[/caption]

Overview of Guimarães

Guimarães is a beautiful and interesting Portuguese city located in the Braga district. The city was founded in the 8th century, and it is considered the birthplace of Portugal for several reasons. One of them is because Guimarães was the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, who was Portugal’s first king with the name Alfonso I. It was also in this area that the Battle of São Mamede was fought in 1128 between Afonso Henrique’s troops and his mother’s forces. Afonso won and became first prince and then king of Portugal.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the city encircled by city walls grew. At the beginning of the 15th century, the city walls were torn down, and Guimarães’ then two separate districts were united through further expansion, which became possible when the walls were removed. Over the centuries, churches, monasteries and mansions were built in the city, whose center today stands as an exceptionally well-preserved and fine example of the development of a medieval town into a modern city. And for this reason, Guimarães’ center is included in UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage.

You can enjoy many pleasant walks in the center of Guimarães, and you can, for example, start at the Largo do Toural, which is one of the city’s beautiful squares. Largo do Toural originated as a marketplace in the 17th century, and although it was then outside the main gate to the city, it is considered the center today. At the square is the church Basílica de São Pedro from 1750 and several buildings in the contemporary Pombal style, which in construction techniques often used prefabricated elements.

About the Guimarães travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English

About the travel guide

The Guimarães travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Portuguese city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Guimarães is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

Read more about Guimarães and Portugal

Portugal Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/portugal
City tourism: https://visitguima-raes.pt
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Guimarães you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Travel Expert

Stig Albeck

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