Known as the ‘Cradle City’, Guimarães is a must-visit place, especially for those who enjoy prominent medieval castles and beyond. Located less than an hour’s drive from Porto, this is the perfect destination for a stroll or a weekend getaway.
From Guimarães Castle to the magnificent Paço dos Duques, not forgetting the Penha Sanctuary, there are plenty of places to visit in this city in Minho, whose historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Shall we travel there together?
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Guimarães Castle
Guimarães Castle is one of the most beautiful near Porto, but also one of the most important in Portugal.
The medieval fortification dates back to the 10th century and is intrinsically linked to King Afonso Henriques and the founding of Portugal.
Palace of the Dukes of Bragança
Classified as a National Monument since 1910, this is one of the most impressive buildings in Guimarães and also one of the best reasons to visit the city.
The Paço dos Duques de Bragança, also known simply as the Paço dos Duques, was built by King Afonso, 1st Duke of the House of Bragança. During the 15th century, the palace experienced great vigor.
As time went by, the building was abandoned. At the time of the French invasions, it was converted into military barracks. In the 20th century, the Paço dos Duques was rebuilt.
Cultural offer
In 2012, Guimarães became the European Capital of Culture and this, in addition to bringing prestige to the city, has also served as an impetus for the continuous emergence of new forms of expression and cultural offerings for the population and visitors.
As Guimarães is a very traditional city that embraces the culture of Minho, there will be no shortage of folkloric culture scattered around. However, there is a perfect alliance between the traditional and the contemporary and, for example, the historic streets of Guimarães convey just that. You can already see more and more urban art filling and coloring the walls of the city.
In addition to all this, it is advisable to visit the city’s various museums, such as the José de Guimarães International Arts Center, the Casa da Memória or the Martins Sarmento Archaeological Museum.
Green spaces
In every city we look for green spaces and Guimarães is no exception. Here we find several lovely parks and gardens, some with breathtaking views.
In this field, we recommend a visit to Monte da Penha, where you’ll be amazed by the view over the city. You can take the cable car to the top of the mountain from the city of Guimarães.
You can also enjoy the City Park, the Taipas Leisure Park or the gardens of the Paço dos Duques de Bragança, among many others.
Several churches
In Guimarães, as in most Portuguese cities, there are many churches, in different styles and from different periods, which are well worth a visit. We remember that there is a lot of manual work in each of these more “traditional” churches in Portugal and that everything was thought out in detail back then.
That’s why some people enjoy going into churches just to contemplate the building as a work of architecture. Here are some suggestions of churches to visit:
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira;
- Church of São Miguel do Castelo;
- Santuário da Penha, among others.
Citânia de Briteiros
Located at the top of Monte de São Romão, on the outskirts of the city of Guimarães, Citânia de Briteiros is a must-see for anyone who loves history and archaeology. After all, it is one of the most important examples of Castro culture to be found on the Iberian Peninsula.
In all, the Citânia de Briteiros covers a total area of 24 hectares, of which seven are excavated and can be visited. If you decide to stop by, you can also take the opportunity to walk the 9.5 km Citânia Route.
Gastronomy
We’ve already mentioned this topic, but we couldn’t fail to include it as another excellent reason to visit Guimarães. Being a typical Minho city, there are many good places to enjoy the best of Portuguese cuisine.
If you’re a fan of traditional Portuguese cuisine, this is a destination that won’t disappoint.