Vila Flôr Palace

Constructed in the middle of the 17th century at the order of the Carvalho family, the palace is decorated with granite statues of the first kings of Portugal and surrounded by a beautiful garden on three terraces, embelished with a baroque fountain.

Queen Maria II stayed here during her visit to Guimarães in 1852, and two years later it was the stage for the 1st Industrial and Trade Exhibition.

Church of S.Gualter

Designed by the architect André Soares, it was begun in 18th cenutry. The two spires were added in the middle of the 19th century; the staircase and balustrade being of the same peiod. The altar-piece of the chancel is of classical inspiration dating from the 18th century, painted to imitate marble.

Martins Sarmento Archaeological Museum

The invaluable collection of the Martins Sarmento Archaeological Society, belongs to the Martins Sarmento Society, a cultural institution founded in 1881. The museum was created in 1885 with the deposit of objects of archaeological note and from 1885 a galley was opened in the beautiful 14th century clisters of St.Dominic which offered suitable conditions for theirs display. Not only is it the main reference point for pre-roman culture in Portugal but it is also one of the most important European museums dedicated to this area.

Toural Square

What is considered to be the heart of today´s was in the 17th century a square outside the city walls, adjacent to the city´s main gate, where the cattle market took place. In 1791 the Town Council leased the land adjoining the walls for the construction of buildings which were later built following plans probably derived from Lisbon. Thus began the gradual process of transforming the Toural.

In the second half of the 19th century a public garden was laid down surrounded by metal railings, which opened in 1878. A new urban furniture was created for this space incorporating architecture in cast iron; bandstand, public conveniences, benches and street-lamps. With the inauguration of the Republic the public garden was transferred to another site and the Toural redesigned with a statue of Afonso Henriques as its centre-piece. Some years later this was moved to the Castle park and an attractive fountain took its place.

Church of S.Pedro

The church was originally commissioned in 1737, and built in great simplicity alongside the houses belonging to the Fraternity of St. Peter. However the rebuilding of the chucrh was contemplated and to this effect a new authorisation was issued to the Fraternity in 1782 to rebuild and enlarge it. Premission to start work was granted in November of 1880 as soon as the project had received approval by the Lisbon Architects Association. Work began in March 1881 with the demolition of the fraternity´s houses which were located against the main body of the church, to permit the construction of the main facade. Building finished at the beginning of the 20th century although the project was never entirely completed.

Alberto Sampaio Museum

The Alberto Sampaio Museum was created in 1928 to house the collection of the extinct Chapter house of N.Sra da Oliveira and the other churches and monasteries of Guimarães, which were at that time in the hands of the state. It is situated in the historical centre of the exact site where in the 10th century Mumadona founded her monastery and around which grew up the town of Guimarães. The space which the museum occupies, the ancient priory and chapter house, the cloisters and the mediaeval rooms, all once belonged to the Chapter house of N.Sra da Oliveira. and have a historic and artistic value of their own. The museum boasts important collections of archtectural, figure and tomb sculptures covering the mediaeval and renaissance periods, extending as far as the 18th century. The collection of silverwave is one of the finest in the country.

Outstanding is the chalice offered by King Sancho I, the 13th century image of St.Mary of Guimarães, processional crosses and the magnificent gothic altarpiece in gilded silver from the end of the 14th century representing the Nativity.

One should also point out the tunic wom by King joão I at the battle of Aljubarrota; the fresco from the 16th century depicting the beheading of St. John the Baptist, paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries in mannerist style, baroque carvings, embroidered vestments, tiles and faience.

Convent of Santa Clara [Guimarães Town Hall)

It was once one of the richest convents of Guimarães instituted in the 16th century by Baltasar de Andrade, Cannon and School-master of the Chapter of N.Sra da Oliveira. The facade of the building is baroque. with a sculptureof St.Clare at its centre, while the two-storey cloister is Neo-classical. The building now houses Guimarães Town Hall.
The once sumptuous chapel was emptied in the 19th century, although some gilt carvings are preserved in the Albert Sampaio Museum. It is now home to the Alfredo Pimenta Local Archive, which contains an important collection of documents covering local history including that of the Chapter house of the church of N.Sra da Oliveira.

Rua de Santa Maria

It was one of the first streets of Guimarães since it served as the link between the monastery founded by Mumadona, which was located in the lower town, and the Castle, situated in the upper town. There are references to a street by this name in documents dating from the 12th century, although the upper part of the street later went by the name of Rua da Infesta. The existence of a number of significant buildings along it, the Convent of St. Clare, the Casa do Arco, the Casa dos Peixotos and the Casa dos Valadares, as well as many others impart a singular identity to this street which is characteristic of the city.

Old Council Chambers

The building was started in the reign of King João I, at the end of the 14th century. It was completely remodeiled at the beginningof the 17th century by the architect João Lopes de Amorim. The interior has a painted wooden ceiling. Currently it houses the Museum of Primitive art which displays works of international renown in the Naive style.

The Salado Memorial

Gothic monument from the reign of King Afonso IV, to commemorate the Battle of Salado fought in 1340. The stone cross, completed in 1342, was offered by Pedro Esteves, a local businessman resident in Lisbon.

The Carmo Fountain

A renaissance fountain in three tiers constructed im 1583 by Mestre Gonçalo Lopes. Originally built for the Toural where is stood from 1585 to 1873, it is today located in Martins Sarmento Square, in front of the house where the great archaeologist died.

Church of N.Sra. da Oliveira

Towards the end of the 14th c. King João I ordered the church to be rebuilt in consequence of a vow he had made to the Blessed Virgin Mary in gratitude for the victory at Aljubarrota.

The architect was Mestre João Garcia of Toledo. On the ground floor of the tower; which was added in 1513, is the mortuary chapel of the parents of Prior D.Diogo Pinheiro, who was responsible for the reconstruction of the tower: The chancel was enlarged at the end oh the 17thc. under the aegis of King Pedro II, whose coat of arms can be seen on the vault. The altar-piece is from the second half of the 18th c. and the 16th c. stall has Neo-classical backrests. There are two panels above the stall which are attributed to the painter Pedro Alexandrino, and in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament there is a silver altar covered by a silver altar-doth, work of local silversmiths. In the sacristy there is a chapel whose walls are covered in patterned tiles.