Guimarães

Guimarães is a medieval city that has joined the modern world. It is closely connected to the formation of Portugal as a state in the 12th century.             

It contains a 10th century castle and many traditional buildings      from the 15th to 19th centuries, including the Palace of the Duke  of Braganca ('Paco Ducal'), a World Heritage site; the Church of      Nossa Senhora da Oliveira which has a sculpture-laden front and   a museum in the cloisters; the Santa Clara Convent; Gothic arches; and a monastery ('Monesteiro de São Domingos') that holds local archeological exhibitions.

Alfonso Henriques became the first King of Portugal after a battle during which his army defeated that of his mother in 1128. The Moors  who had invaded the south of Portugal (and Spain) were pushed back  into North Africa subsequent to this event. There is a statue (1874) of King Afonso in the Paco Ducal

A pleasant square in the heart of the old town is Largo da Oliveira Olive Tree Square).