Guimarães – European Capital of Culture 2012
Located in the country’s northern district of Braga, the city of Guimarães is full of beautiful monuments and world heritage sites. Combined with its mouth-watering food, it’s always fund to wander through the backstreets at any time of the year and this year is particularly special for this fascinating place. As the very first capital of Portugal and birthplace of its first King, it has been awarded the status of cultural capital for Europe in 2012. Portugal is so easy to get to and there are lots of reasonable flights, so don’t miss out on seeing this fabulous city in it’s special year!
City Life
Take a guided city tour on arrival or stroll the town as your leisure; either way you will feel like you are back in medieval times! Guimarães is one of the largest tourist centres in the region and its historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the city’s complex mix of music, fine arts, theatre, dance, architecture and food and watch the many shows that take place daily in celebration of the 2012 Capital of Culture.
Guimarães Castle
Take time out to visit this unique landmark which is representative of the birth of Portugal, with the city often referred to as the ‘the cradle city’. The Countess of Portugal, Dona Mumadona Dias, built this fort in the 10th century to guard against the attack of Normans and Arab invaders and it became the official royal residence in 1139 when Portugal became independent.
Portuguese Food
The old town has several quaint courtyards and squares brimming with cafés and restaurants, with a pronounced diversity of style and fare. If you want to try traditional northern Portuguese cuisine, there are some excellent hearty dishes on offer, from caldo verde soup to alheria sausages and plenty of salt cod! Most restaurants will serve you a ‘couvert’, similar to a small tapas appetiser, consisting of paté or olives – delicious.
Dukes of Braganza
The Dukes of Braganza had their own place to call home. The Palace of the Dukes is a well-conserved, medieval Palace (built in the 15th Century) and a must see when visiting Guimarães. Part of this Palace is used as a museum featuring beautiful Persian and Flemish tapestries, paintings and art objects. It is also considered an official residency of the President of Portugal.
Weather
Guimarães is located in a valley with the surrounding hills bringing cold winters but the summers are gorgeous! If you are travelling in February then you can expect temperatures of around 15°C rising to 25°C in the summer months. Perfect for an early summer holiday! Keep a lookout for a cheap flight and get to see the city of culture for 2012.
