Guimaraes, in the north of Portugal at the foot of the Serra de Santa Catarina, is reverentially known as the "cradle of the nation", the berco da naçao, owing to the fact that it was the first capital of the newly established kingdom of Portugal, as well as being the birthplace of its first king, Afonso
Henriques, not to mention the celebrated poet and dramatist Gil Vicente. Its well preserved old town and profusion of historic monuments and art treasures make it a worthwhile destination for the visitor.
Townscape
There is a welcoming feel about Guimaraes, with so much greenery everywhere. Town life revolves around the Praça Toural, lined with shops, houses and banks and the beginning of the town's main shopping street, the Rua de S. António, but tourists tend to be drawn more towards the picturesque old town, with its imposing granite houses. Many have wrought iron balconies, smothered with flowers, and the finest are to be found in the Rua de Santa Maria, around the Largo da Oliveira and to the west of it.
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