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 11th century Count D. Henrique
orders that the castle be built. Later, at the end of the 13th 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 20th 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 10th century,gives origin to a collegiate church in the 12th
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 18th and 19th
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.
