Church of São Miguel do Castelo, Guimarães
The medieval Church of São Miguel do Castelo in Guimarães is within the grounds that encompass Guimarães Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza (Paço dos Duques de Bragança).
This small, squat Romanesque chapel, with little decoration, is of particular importance in the history of Portugal - if (and it is a big if) the legend that the infant Afonso Henriques was baptized here is, in fact, true.
Plaques within the church proclaim that this was indeed the case but the historical evidence would seem to prove otherwise.
History
If Afonso Henriques (c. 1106-1185), the first king of Portugal, was baptized in the church this would place its construction some time in either the 9th or 10th century.
However, first references to the church in existing documents date only from the 13th century.
By the 19th century the church had fallen into a state of disrepair. It was restored by the Sociedade Martins Sarmento, an organization set up by the renown archaeologist Martins Sarmento (1833-1899).
Sarmento was the man who led the excavations of the pre-Roman settlements of the Iron Age fort Citânia de Briteiros and the Celtic settlement of Castro de Sabroso. The Museu Arqueológico da Sociedade Martins Sarmento in Guimarães in named in honour of his achievements.
Extensive repairs to the church were undertaken in the 20th century after the building was declared a National Monument in 1910 up until the 1960's.
Architecture
The Church of São Miguel do Castelo has a simple design with a single nave and chancel.
The walls are granite blocks and the floor of the nave is paved with the granite tombstones of Portuguese knights.
Some of the windows are merely slits. The granite font with an adjacent plaque proclaims it as the baptism site of Afonso Henriques.
Access
Church of São Miguel do Castelo
Rua Conde D. Henrique
4810-245 Guimarães
Tel: 253 412 273
Admission: Free.
Hours: 9.30 am - 12 pm; 2 pm - 5pm (Tuesday to Sunday). Closed: Mondays, 1 January, over Easter, 1 May and 25 December.
Nearby
Close to the Church of São Miguel do Castelo is the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, the Convento do Carmo and the Convento de Santo António dos Capuchos.
Hotels close to the castle grounds which include the church include the four star Santa Luzia ArtHotel and the Hotel da Oliveira, also four star.