Guimaraes was the first capital of Portugal . It is known to be the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. The reason for this is that it was the hometown of the first king of Portugal, Don Afonso Henriques, and many important events that led to the independence of the country, occurred in Guimaraes.
The city is a great place to visit . It has a historic center with many old houses and monuments. This historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its lofty and majestic castle dates from the 12th century. The entire center is very well preserved and the narrow streets of the medieval quarter, the lined old houses, the embellished balconies and the statues, lead the visitor to the beautiful main square, Largo da Oliveira.
The Palace of the Dukes of Bragança (15th century), the magnificent monastery and church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira (with the Alberto Sampaio Museum located in the beautiful Romanesque cloister), the Padrão do Salado (a Gothic sanctuary) from the 14th century or the elegant church of San Francisco, are just some of the many monuments that can be admired during the visit.
About 5 km from the city, there is the old monastery of Santa Marinha da Costa (12th century) which is one of the most sumptuous pousadas in the country, with the gardens and the chapel open to the public. The Iron Age settlement of Citânia de Briteiros 15 km north of Guimaraes is one of the most interesting archaeological destinations in Portugal. During the first week of August the Gualterian Festivities are celebrated.