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Guimarães, Portugal

Guimarães is a city in Minho, Portugal and is one of the most historical cities in Portugal, said to be where "Portugal was born". Placed about 50 km from Porto, Guimarães is placed near to a mountain, Penha, with wonderful views to all the city.

Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos Church, Guimarães, Portugal

The city was settled in the 9th century, at which time it was called Vimaranes. This denomination might have had its origin in the warrior Vímara Peres, who chose this area as the main government seat for the County of Portugal which he conquered for the Kingdom of Galicia.

Guimarães was founded between year 950 to 957 (10th century) and had its origin around a monastery built by Countess Mumadona Dias, widow from Count Hermenegildo Mendes.

Guimarães is World Heritage from UNESCO since 2001 because of its precious medieval historic center.

Get in

• By plane. The easy way to go to Guimarães by plane is to fly to Porto/Sa Carneiro/Pedras Rubras,Maia. Oporto international airport(OPO), and then catch a train or a bus to Guimarães. It's about one hour from Oporto to Guimarães, by bus, and almost one hour and a half by train. Also there is a shutle betwen Guimaraes/Oporto Airport/Guimaraes. Once you get to Porto Airport, you can catch the following transports to Guimarães:

• Train/Metro. Catch the Metro to Campanhã Station or São Bento Station and then get a train to Guimarães. Duration: 2h. Price (aprox.): 5€

• Bus transfer. Direct transfer to Guimarães from Porto Airport and vice versa, it works everyday, 9 times per day. Duration: 50 min Price: 8€ one-way - 14€ go & return.

• Táxi. The táxis are located on the arrivals floor at Porto Airport. Duration: 40 min Price (aprox.): 60€

• By train. This the cheapest and the best way to arrive in Guimarães. If you come from Lisbon you have some, but few, direct connections to Guimarães. It's about four hours. From Oporto, you have a train every hour. If you come by train from Europe, on InterRail, for example, you have always to go to Oporto first and then you catch the train to Guimarães. This trip can give you the best attractions. One is the cheapest price (EUR 6.20 return from Oporto + EUR 0.60 metro card), and the other is the wonderful views, passing over some small rivers and small villages in rural Portugal.

• By car. You have a lot of highways going to Guimarães, from Braga, Porto, Felgueiras, Chaves, and others. The Portuguese highways are all very well connected, and you only have to go straight to Oporto, and then in Oporto you catch A7 (Highway 7) which goes to Guimarães. It's quite easy.

• By bus. If you are traveling by cities near to Guimarães, you always have to ask to people (a very common thing in Portugal) where you can get a bus to Guimarães. You may make a lot of stops during the trip, but it's a way to better get to know the North.

Get around

• In Guimarães, there is a touristic bus that lets you travel through the city centre. But there is not a very big city centre so you probably will prefer to walk by foot and enjoy the harmony of this medieval city. If you want to travel by public bus, the tickets price are about 1,25€.

• To go to Penha Mountain the best solution is getting the Elevators - Teleférico da Penha - and climb up. If you prefer to have a walk through the mountain it's very safe, and you have nice roads to go up, but it will take about 30 minutes. Go there, have lunch, rest after lunch and enjoy fresh air, then visit the mountain. One entire afternoon for this visit.

• Renting a car can be a very nice solution, because, in a small city there is not many traffic jams, and if you want to stay in a place "far" from the centre, it can be a wonderful transport. It's not so expensive to rent a car. But, if you want to feel the city, you can make longer trips, because the city centre has a lot of small medieval streets, that you can only enjoy walking.

• Visit Iron Age Villages 12km around Guimaraes - the most preserved is Citania de Briteiros - beautifull and misterious site. There's public bus going there, one morning or one afternoon to make the visit.

• Visit National Park Peneda Geres - a real paradise on earth 70km far from Guimaraes. Flora from Mediterranean to Alpine as you are going higher in the mountains, wild animals, water falls, etc. There's public bus going there, but if you are a group of 2 or 3 it's worthwhile to rent a car. Needing at least one entire day for a quick visit.

See

• Castelo de Guimarães (Guimarães Castle) Located on a hill looking down upon the old town, this castle was constructed in the X Century. Very well kept, the castle is one of the greatest historical symbols in Portugal. It has been classified by UNESCO as World Heritage. Entrance: EUR 2.50

• Paço dos Duques de Bragança (Dukes of Braganza Palace) was probably originally built between 1420 and 1422, for Afonso, Count of Barcelos - illegitimate son of king John I of Portugal and future Duke of Bragança. The current structure was erected under the Salazar regime and part of it was used as his offices. Only some flooring and a few section of wall are original. Today, the Palace of the dukes is classified as a National Monument - 1910 - and has in its structure, a museum and the main façade in the 2nd floor is destined to the Official Residence for the Presidency of the Republic. Entrance: EUR 5; Hours: 09:00-18:00 every day except 1. Jan., Easter Sunday, 1. May, 25. Dec.

• Penha Mountain, is the only mountain in Guimarães, when you can have a wonderful view over the city. You can go there through an elevator, where you can taste a little more of the mountain spirit, and at the same time get different views of the city.

• Largo da Oliveira (Olive Square), one of the most beautiful places in the city, where you can really feel the ancient times. It's a good place to sit, and have a drink, and look at old construction and typical houses. Here you have Igreja da Oliveira (Olive Church) and the Padrão do Salado.

• Casa de Sezim (Sezim Manor), located in Nespereira (about 5 km away from the city centre), this old manor has astonishing saloons decorated with hand painted wallpaper from 19th century from the french painter Roquemont. Casa de Sezim became the ancestral home of the present family in 1376.

You can enjoy the gardens and the property, as well as taste the famous wine (Vinho Verde).The surroundings are attractive for the hiking and mountain biking. You can also sleep there on request, in a charming and historical place, where romance is sparkling everywhere. (wikitravel.org)