PORTUGAL GUIMARAES- NATIONAL MONUMENTS

CASTLE OF GUIMARAES

The Castelo de Guimaraes was built by order of Countess Mumadona. The purpose of the fortification was to protect the Mosteiro de Santa Maria from the Normand and Saracen invasions that at the time assailed the Iberian Peninsula. At the end of the 11^th century Count D. Henrique orders that the castle be built. Later, at the end of the 13^th century, by initiative of King D.Dinis, the fortress is remodeled. In the following centuries, other monarchs wanted to leave their imprint, submitting the castle to various interventions. But, as centuries passes by, new military tactics led the castle to lose its defensive function to become progressively abandoned and degraded.In the 20^th century, the castle is restored and afterwards classified as a National Monument.

IGERJA DA NOSSA SENHORA DA OLIVEIRA

(CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF OLIVERA )

The origins of the church de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira date back to the time of Countess Mumadona Dias and the foundation of the city ofGuimaraes.The monastery in honour of the World’s Savious, the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Holy Apostles that the Countess Mumadona orders to be built in the 10^th century,gives origin to a collegiate church in the 12^th century. During the middle Ages the church Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira becomes a popular religious centre of the Iberian Peninsula,as a result of its popularity with Santiagoo de Compostele’s pilgrims.

Upon the establishment of the republic,in 1911, the collegiate church is dissolved. The building suffered, as time passes, successive reconstructions which explain why it presents characteristics from different epochs and styles. The last intervention, which dates back to 1967, restituted a large part of the Gothic influence that still remains today, after having been , iin 1830 , subjected to a neoclassic reform. The Igerja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveiira is undoubtedly, one of the most historically important monuments of Guimaraes.

IGREJA E CLAUSTRO DE S. DOMINGOS

(CHURCH AND CLOISTER OF S DOMINGOS)

The origins of the church Igreja de S. Domingos date back to the construction of the first Dominican monastery in Guimaraes, built between 1271 and 1278.

Later,by order of D. Dinis, the building moves to another location in a process that ends only in 1937 .During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the original design of the building is profoundly altered  adding, to the Gothic Elements , baroque and Roman reminicences. After a few extinctions, demolitions, acquisitions and concessions, the Holy Sacrament of the Church Igreja de S Palo is moved there. For this reason it is vested, in 1914, as parochial, in 1959 as property of public interest. Its sacristy has become a museum. It should also be pointed out that the cloister of S. Domingos is a national monument since 1910.

PASRAO DO SALADO

(MONUMENT OF SALADO)

The Padrao do Salaodo, of Gothic style, commemorates according to tradition, the Battle of Salado fought in 1340 against the Moors, in the South of Spain. In this battle, Afonso XI of Castela solicited he support of the Portuguese King Afonso IV.Underneath the monument there is the Normand cross offered by  Vimranense business man Pero Esteves  residing in Lisbon. The cross made of limestone, was initially gilded and polychromed. On one side it has Christ Crucified and on the other Virgin.On the base there are images of various saints.