Private tours in Oporto & surroundings
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Program
Guimarães - As the first capital of Portugal, Guimarães is known as the place where the country was born - "The Cradle City". This is
were the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, who was born in this city, proclaimed Portuguese independence from the Kingdom of
León and from where he launched attacks that drove back the Moors. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its
significance in Portugal's history and the architecture ranging from 15-19th centuries. Most of the tourist attractions are found in the
pedestrianised old town.
The big draw of the city tends to be up on the hill where Guimaraes Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganca are located. The
seven towered castle has a fantastic strategic viewpoint overlooking Guimaraes and the hilly, terraced countryside around. Built in
around 1100 it is still amazingly intact. This is one of the most fun places where you scramble all over the ramparts.
In complete contrast just down the hill is the 15th century Palace of the Dukes of Braganca. This is a massive and imposing building
with distinctive turrets and brick chimneys. It was built in 1401 by the first Duke of Braganca. It was sumptuously restored during the
Salazar dictatorship.
The rest of the attractions are clustered together around the old town which you can reach by heading downhill. Strolling around the
medieval quarter you get an idea for the medieval street layout which is lined with historic buildings everywhere you look. Don't miss
Rua Santa Maria, Guimaraes' first street and the ancient route from Mumadona's monastery to the castle. Largo da Oliveira and Praca de
Santiago are the central points within the old town. Rua Dom Joao I was the old road to Porto and is very picturesque being lined with
balconied houses.
Braga - The region of Braga has been inhabited since pre-historic times. The Romans began their conquest of the region around 136 BC,
and during the times of Emperor Augustus (around the year 20 BC) the city of Bracara Augusta was founded in the context of the
administrative needs of the new Roman territory. The Sueves chose Bracara as capital. But about 485 it passed into the hands of the
Visigothic conquerors and marks the origin of its ecclesiastical greatness. Braga had an important role in the Christianisation of the
Iberian Peninsula. From the Moors, who captured Braga early in the 8th century, the city was retaken in 1040 by king Ferdinand I of
Castile and Leon. From 1093 to 1147 it was the residence of the Portuguese court.
The mediaeval city develops around the cathedral and covers only a fraction of the ancient Roman city.
Another golden age for the city was the 18th century, in which archibishops and architects like André Soares and Carlos Amarante
dotted the city and surrounding region with beautiful baroque churches and civil buildings.
The Cathedral of Braga is one of the most important monuments in the city of Braga, in Northern Portugal. Due to its long history and
artistic significance it is also one of the most important buildings in the country.
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Bom Jesus shrine - Bom Jesus do Monte is a Portuguese sanctuary in the surroundings of the city of Braga. Its name means Good Jesus of the mountain.
The Sanctuary is a notable example of pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway that climbs 116 metres (381 feet). It is an important tourist
attraction of Braga. Many hilltops in Portugal and other parts of Europe have been sites of religious devotion since antiquity, and Bom Jesus hill is one of
these. However, the first indication of a chapel over the hill dates from 1373. This chapel - dedicated to the Holy Cross - was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th
centuries. In 1629 a pilgrimage church was built dedicated to the Bom Jesus (Good Jesus), with six chapels dedicated to the Passion of Christ. The present
Sanctuary started being built in 1722. The design of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, with its Baroque nature, is emphasised by the zigzag form of its
stairways. As the pilgrims climbed the stairs, they encountered a theological programme that contrasted the senses of the material world with the virtues of
the spirit, at the same time as they experienced the scenes of the Passion of Christ. The culmination of the effort was the temple of God, the church on the
top of the hill. The presence of several fountains along the stairways give the idea of purification of the faithful.
Barcelos - Probably the most famous symbol of Portugal, the colourful ceramic cockerel has its origins in the pretty town of Barcelos where, according to
local legend, it is reputed to have saved the life of a traveller wrongly accused of theft by crowing his innocence. Apart from the famous cock, another gem
of Barcelos is the enormous weekly market held every Thursday in the Campo Da Republica. This open square in the centre of the town is one of the
largest of its kind in the country, and the market boasts a huge range of locally produced ceramics alongside other handcrafts and local goods. Other parts of
interest in the town include the old Jewish quarter and the various streets lined with medieval and baroque houses.
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...The north and central regions of Portugal is where you'll more often find the real Portugal. In the very north the traditional way of life
is still followed by small communities up in the mountain regions. Minho is Portugal's greenest and most traditional province and also
the country's best-kept secret. It is often called 'Green Minho' because of its green forests and cultivated valleys. Small houses are
dotted around the lush landscape, surrounded by fields. Connecting these fields are granite set tracks which often have grape vines
growing overhead. Liberally scattered around are the great houses of the past, of which nearly all have been beautifully restored.
Spectacular rivers come into this region from Spain. The river valleys of this area of Portugal used to be the favourite place for the
wealthy to build their manor houses. The Minho is undoubtedly a source of water, where green fields and mountains are in evidence.
Besides boasting the great monuments associated with cities, Braga also has deep religious roots and we feel small in comparison to so
much beauty. Another great city is Guimarães, World Heritage and birthplace of the first King of Portugal...
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