Guimarães is located in the north western region of Portugal , in the Minho province. With 161,876 inhabitants and an area of 242,85Km 2 , Guimarães is one of the biggest Portuguese Cities.

Due to its location, far from the coast and surrounded by mountains, the weather in Guimarães is characterized by rainy cold winters and warm and humid summers. In Spring time the weather is mild and pleasant with average temperatures of 20ºC, making it the best season to visit this historic city and its surroundings.

Guimarães is easily accessible, whether travelling by car or train. When travelling by car from Porto, the easiest and fastest way is to take the A3 (direction Braga ) and then the A7 motorway (direction Guimarães), this trip should take around 40-45min. When travelling from Lisbon , take the A1 motorway (direction Porto ) and then followed has explained previously. If you are coming from Braga , take the A11 motorway towards Guimarães.

If you are considering rail transportation, the Portuguese Railway Company- CP- provides regular and fast train connection from and to Guimarães, from every major city in the country. The train station is conveniently located at walking distance from Guimarães centre and its major monuments. For detailed information regarding train schedules and prices please consult the website www.cp.pt .

The history of the city dates back from the 10 th century, when Countess Mumadona Dias ordered the construction of a monastery and later, for defensive purposes from Moorish and Norman attacks, of a Castle. The construction of these two infrastructures led to the settlement of a new population group and to the rise of the city of Guimarães .

The history of the city is intrinsically linked to the birth of the Portuguese nation and identity for, presumably in 1096 by order of D. Henrique, Guimarães was decreed the administrative centre of the Condado Portucalense. It is also named so because; most probably this was the place of birth of D. Afonso Henriques, son of D. Henrique, that would, after the battle of S. Mamede, become the founder of the Portuguese Kingdom and the first king of Portugal .

Since those remote times Guimarães has become one of the major historic cities of the country, and its historic centre and major monuments, were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, making it one of the biggest tourism centres in the country.

The city of Guimarães has conciliated in a brilliant way, two centuries of history, and consequent monument preservation, with the dynamism and urban growth that characterizes a modern city, making it a pleasant place to live and just perfect for a weekend visit.

The Castle and Paço dos Duques

The Castles dates back from the foundation of Guimarães in the 10 th century and, due to the historic events that took place within its walls, closely linked to the formation of Portugal .

The Paço dos Duques is a majestic house from the 15 th century and its construction was ordered by D. Afonso to house his second wife, D. Constança de Noronha. Between 1937 and 1959, the Paço suffered several renovation woks and has since then been open to the public as a museum. The museum holds a collection of post discoveries portuguese furniture and vast collection of tapestry work, including the four copies of the Pastrana tapestry that pertain some scenes of the conquest of Northern Africa and a collection of Flemish tapestries.

Santa Maria Street

It is one of the most ancient streets to be found in Guimarães and it initially served as a passage way between the monastery founded by countess Mumadona and the Castle. Along its way can be found the Convent of Santa Clara, the House of the Arch, the House of the Peixotos and the gothic house of the Valadares.

Santiago and Oliveira Squares

These are the most emblematic and beautiful squares of Guimarães. The Santiago square is surrounded by beautiful houses of medieval architecture while in the Oliveira square you can find the church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira dating back from the 14 th century and the magnificent Padrão do Salado built in celebration of the Salado battle by order King Afonso IV in 1342.

S. Francisco Church

The church has been much altered over the years, especially during the 18th century, when it underwent profound changes which only left the portico and the east front from the original gothic structure.

The chancel has one of the most notable altarpieces dating from the epoch of King D. João III as well as fine gilt carved panels and Rococo pelmets which combine with the early 18th century tiles depicting scenes from the life of St. Anthony.
The two-storey cloisters were designed by the local architect Gonçalo Lopes at the end of the 16 th century and have a fountain in the middle from the 18th Century. 
There is a gothic chapter house dating from the 14th century which was once decorated with frescoes. The entrance is free.

Museu Alberto Sampaio

Located in the historic center of Guimarães (Rua Alfredo Guimarães), in what was once a 10th century monastery, the recently renewed Alberto Sampaio Museum was open to the public in 1928 to hold several artworks from the extinguished Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and other churches in Guimarães. The collection has since then grown, and now holds several artworks form the 7 th to the 19 th centuries, including sculptures, paintings, jewelry and ceramic pieces. Amongst its vast array of pieces, is the priceless, both monetarily and historically, loudel (a military garment) wore by D. João I in the Batalha de Aljubarrota . The entrance fee is 2€ for adults

Website: www.ipmuseus.pt

Sociedade Martins Sarmento

The Martins Sarmento Society is a non profiltable cultural association of public utility, founded in Guimarães in 1818 in honor of the archeologist and etnographist Francisco Martins Sarmento. The society is based in the ancient gothic cloisters and gardens of the extinguished S. Domingos Monastery and in a imponent 20 th century building designed by the Architect Marques da Silva.

The Society is responsible for the conservation and technical and cientific supervision of the excavations in the archeological sites of Citânia de Briteiros and Castro de Sabroso. It has under its scope the management of two museums, a library and the publication of a magazine.

E-mail: casa.sarmento@csarmento.uminho.pt

Citânia de Briteiros

The Citânia de Briteiros is an archeological site of a pre-historic settlement located just 15 km from Guimarães in S. Salvador de Briteiros.

Discovered by the Portuguese archeologist Martins Sarmento in 1875, the citânia is one the most significant and well preserved fortified Iron Age settlements in the Iberic Peninsula . It took almost 100 years to reveal its 200 houses and defensive walls. Open daily from 09.00h to 12.00h and 13.00h to 18.00h and virtual tour can be made on Citania

Guimarães is known for its pottery and embroidery works. The embroidery is manufactured with cotton thread over linen and its originality is due to the vast array of flowers depicted in several colours such as red, dark blue, white and ivory. Until this day, the embroideries are hand made and the knowledge is passed on from generation to generation.

Pottery is a very interesting art form with seven centuries of tradition in Guimarães. Of all the pieces made, the most famous one remains the “Cantarinha dos Namorados” that is, until this day, hand made in the ovens of Cruz da Pedra.

Minho gastronomy is one of the best and richest in Portugal . In Guimarães, besides all the typical delights from the region such as Vinho Verde, papas de sarrabulho and rojões, you can find the “bolo” which is a sort of bread shaped like a pizza and served with pork meat, or sardines or any other kind of fish or meat.

The presence of a nun convent in the city has had a vast influence in the Guimarães gastronomy, especially when regarding sweets, like in the case of the delicious Tortas de Guimarães and the famous Toucinho do Céu.