Guimaraes - Largo da Oliveira

The impressive Largo da Oliveira, in the heart of the old town, has been particularly successful in managing to retain its medieval aspect.

The story goes that the square, and the church, Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, owe their name "Oliveira" means olive tree to Wamba the Visigoth. Called on to be King, Wamba refused to accept unless a dry olive twig stuck in the sand put forth green shoots again. No sooner was the twig in the ground, presumably where the Gothic/Manueline canopy now stands, than it began to turn green.