Page 278 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

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5 later and, according to legend,
it was the birthplace of Afonso
Guimarães Henriques, Portugal’s first king.
The font where he was said to
! E1 £ Avenida Dom João have been baptized is kept in
EXPERIENCE Minho Santiago; www.guimaraes of São Miguel, situated at the
IV @ Alameda Mariano
the tiny Romanesque chapel
Felgueiras n Praça de
western end of the castle.
turismo.com
Constructed in the
15th century by Dom Afonso
A UNESCO World Heritage
Site, the town of Guimarães is
Burgundian style of the Paço
celebrated as the birthplace
dos Duques reflects Dom
of the nation. When Afonso (first duke of Bragança), the
Henriques proclaimed himself Afonso’s taste acquired on his
king of Portugal in 1139 (p43), travels through Europe. The Ruins of the settlement
he chose Guimarães as his palace fell into disuse when at the archaeological site
capital, and the dis tinctive the Bragança family moved of Citânia de Briteiros
outline of its proud castle to Vila Viçosa (p300). In 1933,
appears on the Portuguese under Salazar’s dicta torship
coat of arms. (p46), it was reno vated as an Found ed by Afonso Henriques,
The narrow streets of the official presidential residence. the church was restored by
medieval quarter are ideal for The Museu de Alberto João I in gratitude to Our Lady
exploration on foot. The Sampaio, housed in the of the Olive Tree for his victory
cobbled Rua de Santa Maria, Romanesque cloister and at Aljubarrota.
lined with old townhouses adjoining rooms of Nossa Named after the famous
embellished with ornate Senhora da Oliveira, displays archaeologist, the Museu
statuary, leads up from the some outstanding religious Martins Sarmento is housed
main square, the Largo da art, azulejos and ceramics, all in the Gothic cloister of the
Oliveira, past the Paço dos from local churches. The star 14th-century convent of São
Duques to the Castelo de exhibits, donated to the church Domingos. Specializing in finds
Guimarães. The castle’s huge by João I, are his tunic worn from excavated sites, some
square keep, encircled by at the battle of Aljubarrota dating from the Stone Age, the
eight crenellated towers, in 1385 (p173), and a 14th- museum contains a wealth of
dominates the skyline. First century silver altar piece, archaeo logical, ethnological
built to deter attacks by comprising a triptych of the and numismatic exhibits. These
Moors and Normans Visitation, Annunciation and include a rare pair of Lusitanian
in the 10th Nativity, reportedly taken from granite warriors (p42).
century, Henry the defeated Spanish king. Built in 1400 in Gothic style,
of Burgundy The former monastery (Nossa the elegant church of São
extended it Senhora da Oliveira) lies on Fran cisco was reconstructed
two centuries the square’s east side. in the 18th century. The interior
of the church boasts a chancel
covered in magnificent 18th-
century azulejos with scenes
from the life of St Antony.
The former mon astery of
Santa Marinha da Costa is
one of Portugal’s top pousadas.
It stands 5 km (3 miles) south-
east of Guimarães, and was
foun ded in 1154. The gardens
and chapel are open to
the public.
Castelo de Guimarães
" ⌂ Rua Conde Dom
Stately Largo do Toural in Henrique § 253 412 273
Guimarães, dating from # 10am–6pm daily ¢ 1 Jan,
the 18th century Easter, 1 May, 25 Dec
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