Experience the charm and unique personality of Guimarães on a half-day tour. This birthplace of Portugal harmoniously combines the past with the present and has been widely recognized for this ability. In 2012 Guimarães was named a European Capital of Culture, and in 2013 it was chosen European City of Sport. The tour begins at the medieval castle, where a mother and her son waged a battle over the creation of the Portuguese nation. Behind the Castle you will find a small church, where it is believed that the first king of Portugal was baptized. Continue on to the city center, which has been listed by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity Site. The streets and monuments of Guimarães have been so well preserved that you will feel like you have stepped into another era. Discover the magnificent architecture of the Church of São Miguel do Castelo, Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, and Largo Martins Sarmento. Pass by the municipal library, the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova, and the church of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira.