Private tours in Oporto & surroundings
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Program
Minho tour offers mountain ranges with breathless views in the land of dense vegetation and profound historic wealth. Stare at manor-
houses and mansions and enjoy the abundant gastronomy, light, acidulous wines (vinhos verdes) and rich wines, and a variety of
handicrafts that mingles the shine of the filigree with the colour of the local embroideries. Throughout the region, the rivers, waterfalls,
vineyards and fertile plots combine with the ancestral monuments in urban centres.
Guimaraes, is known as the "cradle of the nation", owing to the fact that it was the first capital of Portugal. It has a well preserved old
town and profusion of historic monuments and art treasures. The historic town has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
due to the examples of architecture ranging from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Most of the tourist sights are within a demarcated tourist
zone that stretches from Guimaraes Castle in the north on the hill and then south in a cluster of cobbled streets and squares.
Town life revolves around the Praça Toural, lined with shops, houses and banks and the beginning of the town's main shopping street,
the Rua de S. António, but tourists tend to be drawn more towards the picturesque old town, with its imposing granite houses. Many
have wrought iron balconies, smothered with flowers and the finest are to be found in the Rua de Santa Maria.
Largo da Oliveira and Praca de Santiago are the central points within the old town which become full of coffee drinkers and diners from
later in the morning. Rua Dom Joao I was the old road to Porto and is very picturesque being lined with balconied houses.
The big draw of the city tends to be up on the hill where Guimaraes Castle (Castelo de Guimaraes) and the Palace of the Dukes of
Braganca stand. The seven towered castle has a fantastic strategic viewpoint overlooking Guimaraes and the hilly, terraced countryside
around.
In complete contrast is the 15th century Palace of the Dukes of Braganca – the last royal dynasty in Portugal.
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Braga, the Rome of Portugal, is the spiritual home of the country with thirty five churches chiming across the city. There is a rich cultural heritage marked
by impressive religious festivals and architecture. Everywhere in the old town visitors will encounter fine old burghers' houses and noble mansions built of
granite in an imposing style characteristic of this city.
The Cathedral was built in Romanesque style in the 11th century and was enriched with Manueline sculptures in the 14th century. Other outstanding
churches are the Misericordia Church built in Italian Renaissance style during the 16th century, Santa Cruz that features a rococo façade, Sao Joao de Souto
dating back to the 18th century and the Capela da Conceiçao from the 16th century.
A good place to start exploring the centre of Braga is the Praca da Republica in the centre of the old town. Other interesting sites are the Paço Episcopal,
formed by three buildings built between the 14th and 17th centuries, housing one of the largest libraries in Portugal. The 14th century Torre de Menagem in
the city’s square, which is all that remains of the original fortifications and the Senhora de Sameiro, which is the third most visited pilgrim location in
Portugal.
The city is still Portugal's religious capital. Look around and you soon become aware of the weight of ecclesiastical power. The city's outlying districts also
boast a selection of important religious buildings and sanctuaries, notably Bom Jesus, one of the country's most extravagant Baroque creations.
The Bom Jesus sanctuary is a notable example of pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway that climbs 116 metres (381 feet). As the pilgrims
climb the stairs, they encounter a theological programme. The Baroque steps, dotted with chapels, fountains and statues, symbolize the Fourteen Stations
of the Cross. The culmination of the effort is the temple of God, the church on the top of the hill.
Another important pilgrimage place is Monte Sameiro. It is reached by an enormous modern flight of steps, with a statue of Pope Pius IX at the foot. The
mound is crowned with a marriage sanctuary. Inside the church, a staircase with 265 steps leads to the lantern of the cupola (at a height of 613 m) from
which you have a panoramic view over the Minho. To the northwest you will see the Santa Luzia mountain dominating the Viana do Castelo; to the
northeast, the Serra do Gerês; the Serra do Marão to the south east and, lower down, the relics of the historic city of Briteiros.
Barcelos - Probably the most famous symbol of Portugal, the colourful ceramic cockerel has its origins in the pretty town of Barcelos. 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.
The town houses a variety of monuments - notably, the Constables House, the Campo de Republica and a Museum of Arts and Handicrafts - and an
attractive riverside location; it's an enjoyable enough place to spend half a day wandering around.
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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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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, was born. 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.
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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.
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