Guimaraes City Break

Founded in the 10th century, the beautiful city of Guimaraes is one of Northern Portugal’s lesser-known treasures.

It’s also one of the trickiest place names to pronounce – try gee-mar-resh and you’re getting close. Considered the birthplace of the Kingdom of Portugal, this UNESCO-protected city is home to many of the country’s finest medieval buildings – from the fairytale Castelo de Guimaraes and its impressive neighbour the Paco dos Duques de Braganca, to the gothic grandeur of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira.

The architecture of its pretty main plazas, the Praca de Sao Tiago and the Largo da Oliveira, is dominated by stout granite columns, exaggerated eaves and pretty wrought-iron balconies, often decorated with the day’s laundry. Guimaraes’ historic centre is still residential, and there’s a pleasant bustle to the city’s maze of medieval passageways and narrow cobbled streets.

Accommodation-wise: the Hotel da Oliveira is a cosy, family-run hotel overlooking the Largo da Oliveira – our recommended choice if you want to be in the very heart of the city. The Pousada Mosteiro Guimaraes is a more peaceful option just outside the centre: its striking 12^th century architecture is as dramatic as any other historic landmark in the city. Including a hire car during your stay allows you to explore further afield – but if you’d prefer a holiday from driving, we can replace the car with private guided tours.

Sister-city Braga is just a short drive away – founded in the Roman era, Braga has been the religious capital of Portugal since the 11^th century. In the 21^st century, the city is third largest to Lisbon and Porto, and its baroque Bom Jesus do Monte is one of the country’s most-sacred pilgrimage sites, with its magnificent zig-zagging stairways.

To the south, the pretty town of Amarante on the banks of the River Tamega is popular for its sweet pastries and unique confections: recipes which owe their existence to the nuns who lived in the local convents back in the 16^th century. Located in the Entre-Douro-e-Minho region, Amarante is one of the best places to sample Vinho Verde: the famously light, young wine which is celebrated across Portugal for its fresh, citrus flavour.