Guimarães is a town about 26 km (16 mi) from Braga and since we had seen some interesting videos about it online, we wanted to do a day trip here. It is considered the birthplace of Portugal for two reasons--their first King, Afonso Henriques, was born here and the pivotal battle establishing the nation was fought nearby. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the well-preserved Old Town.
King Afonso Henriques statue by João Cutileiro
Church Altar
The Padrão do Solado (erected in 1340) with the church in the background
Fe on the city walls with the Ducal Palace in the background
Another view of the castle
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos. This is the photo I see the most when I look up Guimarães. We didn't go in though.
As usual, we stayed in town until they turned the Christmas lights on. Some sights:
Lights in Largo do Toural
"Aqui Nasceu Portugal" - Portugal was Born Here. The heart is the Guimarães city logo.
We did a lot of walking today so it was nice to get back to the apartment, but I think if we had more time here there were still things to discover. Next time.
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