The city of Guimarães is situated in Northern Portugal about 55
km North-East of Porto and 20 km from Braga.
An exceptionally well preserved town,
Guimarães illustrates the evolution of particular building types from the medieval
settlement to the present-day city, and particularly in the 15th–19th centuries. In
2001 the historic centre of Guimarães was enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage list with
the following justifications: the historic town of Guimarães is associated with the
emergence of the Portuguese national identity in the 12th century. An exceptionally
well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a Medieval settlement into a
modern town, its rich building typology exemplifies the specific development of Portuguese
architecture from the 15th to 19th century through the consistent use of traditional
building materials and techniques. Guimarães houses a magnificently well-preserved
historic centre. Deserving special mentions the palace of the Dukes of Bragança
(15th-century), the church of São Miguel (Romanesque), the church of Santos Passos
(Baroque), and the monastery of Santa Marinha da Costa (converted in to a pousada). In the
cloisters of the church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira is the Alberto Sampaio Museum; and
the cloister of São Domingos Convent houses the Martins Sarmento Museum. In the ancient
dominican convent stands the Sacred Art Museum. The Rua de Santa Maria in
the old quarter of the city is still a tight narrow street with cobbles and lined with
facades adorned with statues.
