Guimarães

Guimarães(European Portuguese pronunciation:[ɡimɐˈɾɐ̃jʃ]) is a city and municipality located innorthern Portugal, in the district ofBraga.
Its historic town centre has been listed as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Sitesince 2001, in recognition for being an "exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town" in Europe. TheNicolinasare the city's main festivities.
Guimarães is referred as the capital of theAve Subregion(one of the most industrialised subregions in the country), and located in the historicalMinho Province. The municipality has a population of 156,830 inhabitants according to the most recent data of 2021in an area of 240.95 square kilometres (93.03 sq mi).The current mayor is Domingos Bragança, of theSocialist Party. Guimarães, along withMaribor, Slovenia, was theEuropean Capital of Culturein 2012. Guimarães also received the 2026European Green Capital Award.
The city was settled in the 9th century, at which time it was calledVimaranes. This name might have had its origin in the warriorVímara Peres, who chose this area as the main government seat for theCounty of Portugalwhich he conquered for theKingdom of Galicia. Guimarães has a significant historical importance due to the role it played in the foundation of Portugal. The city is commonly referred to as the "birthplace of Portugal" or "the cradle city" (Cidade Berçoin Portuguese) because it was in Guimarães that Portugal's first King,Afonso Henriqueswas born, and also because theBattle of São Mamede– which is considered the seminal event for the foundation of theKingdom of Portugal– was fought in the vicinity of the city.It was declared the most beautiful small city in Europe by theCondé Nast Travelermagazine in 2022.
The History of Guimarães is associated with the foundation and identity of the Portuguese nationality. Guimarães, as well as other settlements, precedes the foundation of Portugal and because of its role in the foundation of the country it is known as the "cradle of the Portuguese nationality". In 1128, major political and military events that would lead to the independence and the birth of a new nation took place in Guimarães. For this reason, in one of the old towers of the city's old wall is written "Aqui nasceu Portugal" (Portugal was born here).
According to archeological findings inCitânia (Castro)ofBriteirosand Sabroso and Penha's archeologic site, the area in which Guimarães is located has had permanent settlements since the lateChalcolithicperiod.
There is also evidence of Roman occupation, and a stone dedicated to the Roman emperorTrajanfound inCaldas das Taipassuggests that this was already aspa towninRoman times.
Following theReconquistapolicy promoted by theKingdom of Galiciain the 9th century, themedievalfoundations of the actual city have roots in the 10th century. At this point, theCountessMumadona Dias, erected amonasteryin her property ofVimaranes, which led to the settlement of people in the area known as "vila baixa" (downtown). At the same time, she ordered the construction of a castle on the hill area which became known as "vila alta" (uptown), to defend the settlement. To connect these to other areas, theRua de Santa Mariawas built.
The monastery became the "Real Colegiada" (RoyalCollegiate church) and throughout time acquired importance due to the privileges and donations given to it by nobles and kings and it became a famous pilgrimage site.
Henry, Count of Portugalapproved the first nationalforalpossibly in 1096 (but not confirmed). The foral proves the growing importance of the village of Guimarães at that time, which was chosen as the capital of theCounty of Portugal.
On 24 June 1128, the "Batalha de São Mamede" (Battle of São Mamede) took place in Guimarães.
During the reign of kingDenis, as the town was expanding, it was partially surrounded by adefensive wall. Meanwhile,mendicant orderssettled in Guimarães and helped to mold the shape of the emerging city. Later, during the reign ofJohn I, the wall was torn down and the two parts of the city (uptown and downtown) were finally united and the city began to expand outside its old walls.
The construction ofSt. Peter's Basilicabegan in 1737, and became a minor basilica in 1751, with formal completion of the work between 1883 and 1884.
Until the 19th century the structure of the city did not suffer many transformations besides the construction of a few more churches,conventsand palaces. It was by the ending of the 19th century that new urbanistic ideas of hygiene and symmetry that the village, that was promoted to city by the QueenMaria IIon 23 June 1853 had its greatest changes.
The complete demolition of the city walls was authorized and the creation of many streets and avenues could start at that point. The controlled process of urbanization permitted the conservation of the city's magnificent historical centre.
Guimarães hosted the2024 European Trampoline Championships.
Graniterock formations occupy the majority of the municipality butschistrocks can also be found in certain zones in the northwest of the municipality. On the southeast, clay can be found instream bedof the Ave, Vizela and Selho rivers.
The municipality is delimited at north by the "Senhora do Monte" (Senhora hill), at northwest by the hills of Falperra,Sameiro, Outeiro and Penedice. To the south is theMonte da Penha, which is the highest point of the municipality, with a height of 613 metres (2,011 ft) abovemean sea level.
Guimarães is part of thedrainage basinofAve riverwhich divides the municipality in half. The Ave river has as tributaries theVizela,Torto,Febrasand inside the city, theSelho, theCourosand the Santa Lúzia stream.
Guimarães is located in a valley surrounded by hills, at some distance from the sea. Summers tend to be lightly humid and hot, though still with some oceanic moderation compared to other locations further inland. Winters are  generally cool and rainy, with about 29 days with frost per year on average.The last time it snowed with accumulation in the city was in January 2009, though nearby hills such as Penha may experience it more often. The average annual temperature is 14 °C.
There is not much diversity, especially in the urban areas, but the municipality has some species of cynegetic interest such as: thered fox, thewild boar, theturtle dove, thethrush, the pigeon and thered-legged partridge. In the green areas of the city, the most common species are rodents, especially squirrels.
Administratively, the municipality of Guimarães is divided into 48 civil parishes (freguesias), previously having 69, but some of these were extinct and merged in 2013, after a nationwide territorial reorganization.
Guimarães is an average size city but with a booming cultural life. Besides its museums, monuments, cultural associations, art galleries and popular festivities, it has since September 2005, an important cultural space, the Vila Flor Cultural Center. This cultural center has two auditoria, exhibition center and a concert-cafe. Guimarães was theEuropean Capital of Culturein 2012, together withMariborin Slovenia.
Guimarães is also home to association football clubVitória S.C.who compete in thePrimeira Liga, the top-flight offootball in Portugal.
Guimarães was elected byThe New York Timesone of the 41 places to go in 2011 and called it one of theIberian Peninsula's emerging cultural spots.
The fact that Guimarães was founded on the lands of a female convent had a great influence on the region's cuisine, especially its confectionery, such as the "Tortas de Guimarães"(Guimarães' tarts, a half moon flakey pastry wrongfully named a tart) and, mainly, the "Toucinho do céu" (normally, but incorrectly, translated as bacon from heaven, a moist yellow-colored pudding-cake). Besides what is usual inMinho, such as "vinho verde" , "Papas de sarrabulho" (a pig meat and blood porridge), "Rojões" (stewed pig meat served with potatoes and entrail sausage), etc., the so-called "Bôla de carne"(Meat cakes) is also made here, consisting of a type of bread (shaped like apizza) served withtoucinho(bacon),sardinesor other toppings.
The city of Guimarães has several cultural spaces of reference at a regional and national level. Among the several museums of the city, the Alberto Sampaio museum is the one that stands out. Founded in 1928, it opened its doors to the public in 1931; it is located in the old site of theCanonthe Collegiate of Our Lady of Oliveira (Cabido da Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveirain Portuguese). It contains a rich collection of pieces from the 14th, 15th and 16th century, including one rare vest that was used by the kingJohn I.
The Martins Sarmento Society (Sociedade Martins Sarmentoin Portuguese) is one of the country oldest institutions dedicated to the study and preservation of archaeological artifacts. The society owns two museums: the Archaeological Museum of the Martins Sarmento Society, which is known by itsprehistoryandprotohistorycollections and also itsnumismaticsandepigraphycollections; and theCastro CultureMuseum which is dedicated to the Castro culture.
There is also: the Primitive Modern Arts Museum, located in theDomus Municipalis(the old city hall), which contains a collection ofnaïve art; the Museum of the Village of São Torcato, which is dedicated to the region and its relationship with the monastery and Saint Torcato (São Torcatoin Portuguese); the Agriculture Museum of Fermentões, which exhibits collections of the traditional agricultural practices of the region; and the Museum of São Sebastião, inaugurated on 24 March 1984, which contains mainlysacred art.
Other cultural venues include:
Guimarães has two major sports club,Vitória Sport Clube, whosefootball (soccer)team has been the city's representative in thePrimeira Ligaevery year, having already conquered aPortuguese Cupin 2012/13 and aPortuguese Supercupin 1988, andMoreirense Futebol Clube, whosefootball (soccer)team is also inPrimeira Ligafor some years and already won thePortuguese Second Divisionin 2013/14 and thePortuguese League Cupin 2016/17. 
During Vitória SC European campaigns, the Portuguese team played against teams likeArsenal FC,Atletico Madrid,Real Sociedad,Eintracht Frankfurt,Parma FCandBorussia Monchengladbach.
Vitória SC also hashandball,basketball,volleyballandwater polosquads competing in the top divisions of their sports.
In 2008, the city ranked second in the index of most livable city in Portugal. It is also the 10th least polluted city in the country according to IQAir.
In 2004, 89% of the population had running water; it was forecast that the number would raise to 95% by 2006. In 2001, 63.5% of the population had basic sanitation; it was forecast that the number would raise to 80% by 2008. In 2001, 100% of the population had access to waste management services.
However, several people complain that the city, together with other cities of the Braga district has had an unaesthetic and unorganized growth.
Guimarães ranks fourth in the country for available newspapers. The oldest was the "Azemel Vimaranense", founded in 1822; it possibly had its publication halted by theVilafrancadaincidents. From 1856, other newspapers start to appear, amongst them "A Tesoura de Guimarães". Actually the city's newspapers are:
There are two stations headquartered in the town: Radio Fundação (95.8FM) and Radio Santiago (98.0 FM).
The Guimarães TV transmission is made online since 24 July 2007; it is the result of a collaboration between the city's assembly and the Guimarães Cybercenter. Its contents are feature in the Região Norte TV channel which is available through cable.
The "canalguimarães" was another online channel that started operating in March 2010. It is the fruit of the effort put in by an arts association, the "Associação de Socorros Mútuos Artística Vimaranense", one of the oldest associations of the city.
Guimarães is one of the most industrial municipalities in Portugal. Its primary industries are textiles, shoe industry andmetalomechanics.
Guimarães is linked toPortoby theGuimarães line. This railway line was originally built with narrow gauge track, then modernised and rebuilt to the broadIberian gaugein the first decade of the 21st century. The train service is operated byComboios de Portugal(CP). Locally, Guimarães is served by TUG (Transportes Urbanos de Guimarães) which operates 21 bus routes serving the city.
TheGuimarães Cable Car, agondola lift, links the city centre with the top ofMonte da Penha.
Guimarães istwinnedwith: