Guimarães
Portugal City Travel Guide: Guimarães
- Named a Unesco world heritage site in 2001.
- Historical city center of picturesque buildings.
- Stay in two of Portugal's finest pousadas.
- Modern city famous for textiles, shoes & cutlery.
- Population of around 53,000.
- At an elevation of 400 meters.
- Hosts lively Festas de Cidade e Gualterianas
- European City of Culture 2012
Guimarães is a medieval city that has joined the modern world. It is closely connected to the formation of Portugal as a unified state in the 12th century and is the birthplace of Afonso I of Portugal - Portugal's first king.
It contains a 10th century castle and many traditional buildings from the 15th to 19th centuries.
These include the Palace of the Duke of Braganca ('Paço dos Duques de Bragança'), a World Heritage site; the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira which has a sculpture-laden front and a museum in the cloisters; the Santa Clara Convent; Gothic arches; and a monastery ('Mosteiro de São Domingos') that holds local archaeological exhibitions.
History
The history of the city is also the history of Portugal as a modern nation. Afonso Henriques became the first King of Portugal after a battle during which his army defeated that of his mother in 1128.
The Moors who had invaded the south of Portugal (and Spain) were pushed back into North Africa subsequent to this event. There is a statue (1874) of King Afonso in the Paço dos Duques de Bragança.
A pleasant square in the heart of the old town is Largo da Oliveira (Olive Tree Square) which contains the historic church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and the Padrão do Salado - a 14th century memorial to a victorious battle against the Moors.
Nearby on Rua Alfredo Guimarães is the Museu de Alberto Sampaio (Tel: 253 423 910) with an impressive collection of religious antiquities and art. Praca de Santiago is the city's other ancient square connected by a portico to Largo da Oliveira.
In early June Guimarães stages an annual food fair of local and overseas cuisine and on the first weekend in August is the Festas de Cidade e Gualterianas, held in the town since 1452, with a market, bullfighting music and floats over a week-long period. Sao Gualter is the town's patron saint.
The Paço dos Duques de Bragança (Tel: 253 412 273) was originally built in the 15th century before falling in to ruin. Restored in the 20th century the building has large collections of ceramics, furnishings and tapestries.
The Guimarães Castle seen today dates from the 10th century and is thought to be the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, who became King Afonso I of Portugal.
Legend, though not historical evidence, has his baptism in the nearby, medieval Church of São Miguel do Castelo.
Museums, Churches, Parks
Other historic buildings, churches and museums in Guimarães include the Igreja de Sao Francisco, the twin spires of the Igreja de São Gualter (Igreja do Senhor dos Passos) and the Museu de Arte Primitiva Moderna (Tel: 253 414 186). The latter is a 14th century building that was once the old town hall and now features the works of modern artists.
The Museu Arqueológico Martins Sarmento (Tel: 253 415 969) has exhibits of the pre-Roman, Celtic culture of Iberia much of it excavated from the Celtic hill fort at Citania de Briteiros, 15 km north of Guimarães by Dr. Martins Sarmento in the 1870's.
The Convento de Santo António dos Capuchos is a beautifully restored 17th century convent that was purchased in 1842 by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia. The part of the Convento de Santo António dos Capuchos open to visitors includes the beautiful 17th century sacristy, as well as several cloisters and courtyards.
The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is a Baroque church dating from 1685 with beautiful wooden choir stalls painted with images of the saints.
The Palácio Vila Flor is a fully-restored 18th century aristocratic house and garden adjacent to the modern conference centre and event space, the Centro Cultural Vila Flor, which opened in 2005.
The excellent Centro Internacional das Artes José de Guimarães features the art and collections of locally-born artist, José de Guimarães. These include pieces of African tribal art, Chinese art and pre-Columbian art from Central and South America.
The Casa da Memória opened in 2012 and is a fun museum in a converted former plastics factory. Through scale models, household items, wall panels, photographs and video the shared memories of the history and culture of the city are recreated.
Visitors can take a cable car (Teleférico de Guimarães) over 1,500 meters up to the Penha hilltop at 617 meters. There are great views, parkland to picnic in, bicycle and walking trails, restaurants and cafes, mini-golf and a rather solemn 20th century church, the Santuário da Penha dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Carmo de Penha. The church is a popular place for couples to get married. On the second Sunday in September there is also a pilgrimage to the top.
Guimarães Tourist Office
Alameda S. Damaso 83 (tel. 253/41-24-50).
Monday to Friday 9:30 am-12:30 pm and 2 pm-6:30 pm.
Getting to Guimarães
Air
Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, 20 km north west of Porto is the nearest airport to Guimarães. There are direct buses taking about 50 minutes from Porto Airport to both Guimarães and Braga Bus Station with Getbus. Tickets can be bought online, at the airport service desk or with the driver directly.
There are departures from Porto Airport to Guimarães at 5 am, 7.45 am, 9.15 am, 10.15 am, 12.30 pm, 3 pm, 5.45 pm, 8 pm and 11.59 pm. The fare is 8 Euros one-way or 14 Euros return. The 5 am and 7.45 am departures only run on weekends and public holidays. The 9.15 am and 23.59 departures do not run on weekends and public holidays.
From Guimarães Bus Station (Bay 4) there are departures to Porto Airport at 5 am, 6.15 am, 8.30 am, 10.15 am, 11.30 am, 2 pm, 4.15 pm and 7 pm. The 10.15 pm departure do not run on weekends and public holidays. The 7 pm departure only runs on weekends and public holidays.
Porto Metro Line E connects to Porto Airport from Campanhã Station from where there are frequent trains to Guimarães. Trains to Guimaraes begin at São Bento Station (the stop before Campanhã).
Train Travel in Portugal
Frequent daily trains make the roughly 1-hour, 10 minute run between Porto and Guimarães Station.
Tel. 251/41-23-51.
Car Travel in Portugal
Drive northwest from Porto on N105-2 and N105.
Bus Travel in Portugal
From Braga buses make frequent 1-hour trips during the day. A single (one-way) bus ticket from Braga to the Guimarães bus station, Quinta das Lameiras, is reasonably priced. Tel. 253/42-35-00. There are also buses to Porto (50 mins), Lisbon (5 hours), Amarante, Braganca and Vila Real.
Local buses in Guimarães are operated by TUG (Transurbanos de Guimarães). Buses have olive green and white livery and are mainly of Mercedes manufacture. Both modern and air-conditioned, buses in the city are a pleasant way to get around, though tourists can mainly walk around the historic center.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Featured Hotel
Oliveira Hotel, 16 rooms, 4 star.
Accommodation options in Guimarães include the EMAJ Guimarães Boutique Hotel, the four star Hotel Toural, the Stay Hotel Guimarães Centro, also four stars and the two star Hotel Mestre de Avis.
The Hotel de Guimarães in the south of the city is four stars and has a swimming pool and spa.
Budget hotels in the city include the one star Hotel São Mamede and the two star Hotel ibis Guimaraes Centro.
See here for a full listing of hotels, hostels and apartments in Guimarães.
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Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Tramcars, and Yellow Boat River Tour
Eating
El Rei
Praca da Santiago 20a
Prices: moderate (closed Sunday).
The Cor de Tangerina is a recommended lacto-ovo vegetarian restaurant with garden seating on the way to the castle.
Largo Martins Sarmento, n.º 89 - 1.º andar
4800-432 Guimarães
Tel: (+351) 966 876 165
Other recommended places to eat include the Michelin-listed 34 on Largo do Toural for Portuguese-Asian fusion, Norma on Rua Dr. José Sampaio and Monte dos Leitoes on Travessa de Sao Mamede.
Drinking & Cafes
Tásquilado Bar
Rua de Santa Maria 42
Tel. 253 515 197
Cool sounds till 2 am.
Recommended cafes include Divina Gula on Rua de Santa Maria, Café Milenário in Largo do Toural and Supremo Gosto on Av. São Gonçalo.
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Local football team
Vitoria Guimarães
Stadium name: Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques Seats 30,000. North-west of city center.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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