Guimaraes, Portugal Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

First capital of medieval Portucale, GUIMARÃES remains a lively and atmospheric university town. The town's chief attraction is the Castelo (daily 9.30am–noon & 2–5pm; free), whose square keep and seven towers are an enduring symbol of the emergent Portuguese nation. Built by the Countess of Mumadona and extended by Henry of Burgundy, it became the stronghold of his son, Afonso Henriques. From here the Reconquest began along with the creation of a kingdom that, within a century of Afonso's death, was to stretch to its present borders. Afonso is said to have been born in the keep, … more »