Tourist Attractions in Guimaraes
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.
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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Largo da Oliveira
The Largo da Oliveira in the old town of Guimaraes is a well preserved square. The key sight is the 12th C church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira.
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Castelo
The 10th C Castelo towers above the town of Guimaraes, offering beautiful views of the surrounding area.
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Museu de Alberto Sampaio
(Nossa Senhora da Oliveira)
The Museu de Alberto Sampaio resides in the cloister of a former convent. On display are works by Portuguese artists, along with furniture and clothing.
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Nossa Senhora da Oliveira
(Largo da Oliveira)
Nossa Senhora da Oliveira was first built in the 12th C although much of what can be seen today dates from the 16th C. The interior is particularly noteworthy.
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Paço Ducal
The Gothic Paço Ducal was built in the 15th C as the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança. It was eventually abandoned. In the 1930s it was restored and became an official residence of the president.
Caldas das Taipas, Portugal
(Near Guimaraes)
The spa Caldas das Taipas, about 7km/4.5mi northwest of Guimaraes, was known to the Romans. It has hot sulfurous springs (30°C/86°F), used for treating bronchial and digestive system ailments, as well as rheumatism, etc. There is an attractive park on the banks of the Rio Ave.
Caldas das Taipas
Address : Lg. das Termas
4805-079 Caldas das Taipas
Portugal
Address : Lg. das Termas
4805-079 Caldas das Taipas
Portugal
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | Closed |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Capela de Sao Miguel do Castelo
Below the castle entrance stands the small chapel of Sao Miguel (1105), built of massive courses of dressed stone, in which Afonso Henriques was baptized. Mass is celebrated here annually on the king's birthday to commemorate the event.
Convento do Carmo
The route back to the old town passes below the ducal palace through the Praça de Mumadona, with a modern monument to the Duchess and, somewhat further west, the former Carmelite convent, the Convento do Carmo, its little church in an unpretentious local version of Baroque.
Museu de Martins Sarmento
In the west of the town center it is worth visiting the Museu de Martins Sarmento, an archeological museum in a former Dominican convent (13th C.) containing finds from the prehistoric settlements of Citânia de Briteiros and Castro de Sabroso.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Penha de Santa Catarina
About 5km/3mi southeast above Guimaraes, reached by a lovely mountain road, is the Penha or Serra de Santa Catarina (617m/2,024ft), a rocky height with a pilgrimage church (1898) and a statue of Pope Pius IX. There are superb views from the summit southeast to the Serra de Marao and, on a clear day, north to the Serra do Gerês and west to the Atlantic.
Santos Passos
From the Nossa Senhora da Oliveira in Guimaraes the long Largo da República do Brasil leads to the twin towered Baroque church of the Santos Passos (18th C.), richly decorated with azulejos and sculpture showing Italian influence on the facade.
Sao Francisco
To the west of Santos Passos in Guimaraes stands the church of Sao Francisco, founded by Joao I about 1400 and remodeled in Baroque. The spacious interior is entirely faced with azulejos. The sacristy has a massive coffered ceiling.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | ||||||
| Close |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
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