Oliveira, São Paio e São Sebastião, North, Portugal
Guimarães is one of the most interesting cities in Portugal and in the world, full of history and wonders to discover, and it was for this purpose that on a weekend that was expected to rain, we headed to Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal.
Is with the phrase “Aqui Nasceu Portugal”| "Portugal was born here" that we are received and invited to visit the medieval city, full of history, and since 2012 also full of culture! We chose to start at the center, to park the car and spend 1 day full of discovery for children and nostalgia for adults.
Guimarães is one of those cities that can only be visited on foot!
We walk through the well-preserved streets and squares of the Historic Center, declared by Unesco in 2001 as World Heritage.
It was already close to lunchtime and we decided to stay there by the terrace area to eat anything and have a cup of coffee.
It is a privilege to be able to have a coffee on the terraces of the historic center, a World Heritage Site, or to taste the Minho gastronomy among granite rocks that have already seen parading Castilian, Portuguese and Spanish soldiers, has a special feeling. It is impossible to forget the weight of history when living in such a scenario.
Surrounded by century-old buildings, walking on these granite sidewalks is like walking through the History of Portugal. The Padrão do Salado, the medieval facades of the buildings and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira make Largo da Oliveira one of the most beautiful in the country.
The city has many mysteries and hidden secrets. Getting lost here and escaping the main streets can be a great experience.
After lunch, we went up to the Paço dos Duques de Bragança and the Castle, where Count D. Henrique and D. Teresa resided, and where D. Afonso Henriques was probably born. The city walls, where you can read “Here Guimarães was born”, are just the beginning of a walled complex that is worth exploring.
Along the way, the typical Portuguese tiles on the walls keep us company and further enhance the magic of architecture that surrounds us.
The first stones built from what we now know as Castelo de Guimarães resulted from the need to build a fortress to guard and defend the monks and the Christian community that lived around the Monastery built in the Vimaranes estate in the 10th century from the constant attacks by the Moors and Normans.
In the 12th century, with the formation of the Portucalense County, works were carried out in the then small castle in order to expand it and make it stronger, with this space having served as the stage for several real conflicts throughout its history.
Today everything is peaceful for these bands, no swords or arrows, just history and a remembrance of what was once a great empire.
Inside the Castle we can see the installation of a showcase of artifacts and documents that tell the history of Portugal and the personalities involved in the most decisive events.
Even on a rainy weekend, when it would be wise to stay home, we did not hesitate to go out and meet! It was great to rest, stroll, and breathe deeply
That's all for today
See you on the next trip.
Thank you for watching :)
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