Guimarães Medieval Walking Tour

The construction of the palace of the Dukes of Bragança, its design inspired by that of the typical French manor houses, was begun in the early 15th century. It was commissioned by D. Afonso de Barcelos, the first duke of Bragança and the bastard son of D. João, Master of Avis, the future king D. João I. Because the residence of the Dukes of Bragança was later moved to the Palace of Vila Viçosa, in the Alentejo, the building gradually fell into disrepair over the centuries until it was transformed into a military barracks in 1807. In 1937, restoration work was begun on the building and on 24 June 1959, exactly 831 years after the Battle of São Mamede, the palace was brought back to life in all its Norman-inspired Gothic glory.

The Church of São Miguel do Castelo is intrinsically linked to Guimarães Castle and the foundation of the Portuguese nation, as it is believed that the first king of Portugal - Afonso Henriques - was baptized here. The oldest known reference to the church of S. Miguel do Castelo dates back to 1216. In medieval times, it was under its porch that some town council hearings were held, making it a meeting place for matters of administration and sociability. In 1664, the prior D. Diogo Lobo da Silveira removed the baptismal font from the Church of S. Miguel and moved it to the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira. Over the centuries, it has undergone several processes of ruin and restoration. In September 1927, it returned to its original location. And it returned for exactly the same reason it had been taken - to enhance the baptismal font in which King Afonso Henriques was believed to have been baptized.

It was built by the eighth Count of Barcelos (later the first Duke of Bragança), Afonso, the illegitimate son of King João I. Its construction took place between 1420 and 1433 and must have begun during Afonso's second marriage to Constança de Noronha. It is thought that during the 1500s the palace was still used as the residence of the Dukes of Bragança, but then gradually fell into a phase of abandonment and consequent ruin. In the 19th century, during the French invasions, the palace was converted into military barracks. And in the following century, during the Estado Novo regime, the Paço dos Duques was rebuilt between 1937 and 1959. It was inaugurated on June 25, 1959. The pieces decorating the rooms open to the public are intended to create the illusion that visitors are entering an inhabited house. The tapestry, furniture, ceramics, painting and armory collections are particularly noteworthy.

The construction of the church and convent of Carmo began in 1685 and is evidence of the Baroque style. The convent was dedicated to Saint Teresa. At the beginning of the 1700s, a papal bull authorized those gathered at Saint Teresa's to take the veil of Discalced Carmelite nuns, already under the invocation of Saint Joseph. However, the main altar was occupied by the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel - the most common and well-known invocation. The body of the church is divided from the chancel by a stone arch and is enriched by two side altars: that of the Gospel, dedicated to St. Anne; that of the Epistle, to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In the old choir there is another altar, dedicated to the Dead Lord, which has now been erected by particular initiative and devotion. With the official extinction of the religious orders, the church and convent passed into state ownership and were used for military purposes. In 1862, the building became home to the current Lar de Santa Estefânia.

It was one of the first streets build in Guimarães, as it was intended to connect the convent founded by Mumadona, surrounded by the lower part of the town, and the Castle located in the upper part of the town. It is already referred to by this name in documents dating back to the 12th century. Along its route we find various architectural testimonies of its past: the Convent of Santa Clara, the Casa do Arco, the Casa dos Peixotos and the Gothic Casa dos Valadares, and many others that give it its own identity and characteristics in the city of Guimarães and also know as the preferred area of residence of the city´s dignitaries: the clergy, nobility and well-to-do merchants.

Foi um dos mais ricos conventos de Guimarães, instituído no séc. XVI pelo Cónego Mestre Escola da Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Baltasar de Andrade. Edifício de fachada barroca, tem ao centro a escultura de Santa Clara. O claustro de dois pisos é de tipo clássico. A sua riquíssima capela foi esvaziada no séc. XIX encontrando-se, hoje, parte das talhas douradas no Museu Alberto Sampaio. Neste edifício está instalada a Câmara Municipal de Guimarães.

The historic town of Guimarães is associated with the emergence of the Portuguese national identity in the 12th century. An exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town, its rich building typology exemplifies the specific development of Portuguese architecture from the 15th to 19th century through the consistent use of traditional building materials and techniques.

The origins of the Insigne e Real Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira date back to the monastery dedicated to the Savior of the World, the Virgin of Santa Maria and the Holy Apostles, founded by Countess Mumadona Dias around 950. The invocation of Our Lady of the Olive Tree prevailed after 1342, with the sprouting of an olive tree in the front square. The current building is evidence of successive renovations and additions, incorporating elements from different periods - the Gothic reconstruction promoted by King João I; the Manueline church tower, completed around 1513-1515; the chancel, of classical architecture, rebuilt in the 17th century by King Pedro II; the church's main chapel. The stuccoes in the main and side chapels are references to the neoclassical renovation begun in 1830; the last intervention dates back to the 20th century and aimed to leave the granite of the walls and the columns of medieval origin visible. Classified as a national monument since 1910.

The Largo da Oliveira owes its name to a centuries-old olive-tree planted on this same site. Surrounded by picturesque houses that are typical of the north of Portugal, it is the ideal starting point for a walking tour of the city´s streets. But, in the square itself, there are also a number of interesting features: on the eastern side is a curious Gothic shrine, built in the reign of D. Afonso IV to commemorate the Battle of Salado, where the Portuguese and Castilian forces together defeated the Moorish army from Granada, in 1340. Behind this is the Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Oliveira (or the Igreja da Colegiada - the Collegiate Church of Our Lady of the Olive-Tree), which is the first Gothic monument to have been built in the Minho, under the auspices of D. João I and in fulfilment of a vow that he made in return for victory against the Castilian army in the Battle of Aljubarrota (1385).

At the top of the Penha mountain, you will find the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Penha, a well-known pilgrimage site. The chapel, built in 1652, served as a Convent of the Imaculada Conceição as early as 1727. While visiting the Sanctuary, be dazzled by the stunning set of tiles and gorgeous pulpit. When up there, discover and explore several caves and enjoy the magnificent sights that the natural viewpoints give you. The Penha mountain offers a wide range of activities: a mountain campsite, a mini golf course, an outdoor exercise area, an equestrian center, a picnic area, pedestrian tracks, restaurants, bars and coffee shops.