Guimaraes

Portugal's first king's birthplace

City Overview

Guimaraes has a significant historical importance as it was the birthplace of Portugal’s first sovereign, Afonso I of Portugal.

A city with a maze of narrow historical lanes and beautiful plazas make for great sightseeing, with  superb cuisine and wine among Portugal’s best.

The cities scenic historical centre was listed as a UNESCO site in 2001. Guimaraes is not just known for the medieval UNESCO treasures, but also the nightlife, great dining & drinking, and its luxuriant parks.

Places to stay

If you decide to stay overnight after one day in Guimaraes, the town has a nice collection of historic small hotels and guest houses.

Sightseeing

The 10th century-medieval castle is one of Guimaraes’ top landmarks built against attacks by Moors and Norsemen.

Palace Duques de Bragança is a ducal palace converted into a museum. The magnificent medieval building site is one of Guimaraes’ best architectural sites with a stunning galleried courtyard and the statue picturing Portugal’s first king Afonso I.

The old town of Guimaraes’ in the historical centre and represents the soul of the city. Here you can see for yourself its magnificent Old Palace Council & Old Town Hall, sitting off Oliveira Square.

St. Peter’s Basilica is the neoclassical Catholic temple and is one of the best places to visit for you to uncover the secret of its great ambiance. Inside it boasts a sober, somewhat blue interior with an ornate altar and great sculpture.

Cafes & Restaurants

Guimaraes is one of the best places in Northern Portugal to try its delicious local diet. Eat a  Francesinha, a ham & steak sandwich baked in cheese; Aletria, a custardy dessert based on vermicelli. Try the local wine from Minho, such as "vinho verde" or the highly punchy Port Wine, which comes from the nearby Douro valley.

Guimaraes was founded on the lands of a female convent and had a great influence on the region's cuisine, especially its confectionery, such as the "Tortas de Guimaraes"

The "Bôla de carne" are local meat dishes consisting of a type of bread (shaped like a pizza) served with toucinho (bacon), sardines or other toppings.

Main Events

Festas Gualterianas (Gualteriana festival) is help to honour of Sao Gualter (Saint Walter, a minor franciscan friar), take place on the first weekend of August. The "Cortejo do Linho" (Linen parade) and the "Batalha das Flores" (Battle of the Flowers) are part of the festivities which are ended by the "Marcha Gualteriana" (Gualteriana march).

Santa Luzia festivities in honour of Saint Lucy they take place annually on 13 December. The tradition of this festival is selling of traditional cakes made of rye flour and sugar, called "Sardão" and "Passarinha" (these names have sexual connotations in Portuguese, associated to male and female genitalia respectively).According to the tradition, a boy should offer a "Sardão", which has a phallic form, to the girl and if the girl was interested in dating the boy, she should reply by gifting him with a "Passarinha".

Other

Currency - Euro (EUR)

Language - Portuguese

Visas - Not needed for travellers from the US, Canada and Europe

Best Time To Visit - March – October

Timezone - Western European Standard Time (GMT)

Homosexual Activity - Legal