City walk in the historic center of Guimarães, Cradle of the Nation and UNESCO World Heritage

Guimarães is often considered the birthplace of Portugal . The first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques , is said to have been born here in the 12th century. From Guimarães he began his campaigns to establish the independent Kingdom of Portugal.

The historic centre of Guimarães has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The city has an exceptionally well-preserved medieval townscape with narrow streets, granite buildings and charming squares.

The aim of this city guide is to visit all the major sights .

Start at the Church of São Dâmaso where there is a large parking lot.

We pass the former Monastery of Santo António dos Capuchos , which was converted into a hospital, and the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança , which we pass close by on our return.

After a few churches and chapels we arrive at the Convent of Santo Domingo with its beautiful cloister and organ. Walk a little further through the Jardim da Alameda and certainly through the beautiful gardens with a view of the city, built on terraces in the Jardim da Casa de Vila Flor.

This brings us to the beautiful Largo da República do Brasil with the Church of Our Lady of Consolation and the Holy Steps with its fourteen framed mother-of-pearl paintings. Further along the Monastery of São Francisco.

The Museu de Alberto Sampaio was founded in 1928 to house the artistic heritage of the now defunct Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira church and other churches and convents in Guimarães.

Thus we arrive at the popular square with the church of Our Lady of the Olive Tree, a popular religious centre in the Iberian Peninsula , thanks to its popularity among pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela . In the square stands the Padrão Comemorativo da Batalha do Salado, a 14th-century Gothic monument . Above the arcades that connect the Praça de S. Tiago with the Largo da Oliveira is the Old Town Hall.

Continue along the Torre dos Almadas to Largo do Toural, the main square of Guimarães with the Basílica de São Pedro, which is considered the heart of the city.

Passing by the imposing Casa dos Carvalhos we arrive at the Rua Santa Maria which connects to the castle and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in Guimarães and retains its medieval style, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries .

The Former Monastery of Santa Clara has a two-storey cloister in a classical style. Further on, you can take a short walk along the top of the old walls (muralhas), a pleasant way to see part of the city.

In the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the arcades of the cloister and the portal of the chapter house bear witness to excellent construction techniques.

Thus we return to the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança and, a little further on, the Church of St. Michael , which is closely linked to the foundation of Portuguese nationality because, according to legend, Afonso Henriques, who would become the first king of Portugal, was baptized here.

Finally, we come to Guimarães Castle, declared one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal in 2007.

Be sure to also consult the information about the sights once you are there . They will explain what you will see!

This tour/city walk is part of a series of city walks and tours starting from Resende and Arcos near Ponte de Lima and described in "Day trips Douro and northern Portugal".

09/2025