Street in Guimaraes

Rua de Santa Maria

FreeCosts nothing to visit.

One of the oldest streets in Guimaraes, connecting the castle hill at Guimaraes Castle to Largo da Oliveira. Lined with medieval buildings and iron balconies, it is the spine of the UNESCO-listed historic centre. The street is free to walk, which makes it the natural starting point for exploring the old town on foot, and it leads straight to the cafes of Praca de Santiago.

Practical

Before you go

Address
Rua de Santa Maria, 4800-419 Guimarães
Good to know

Nearby

More in Guimaraes

Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.

Church of Saint Francis

Franciscan church and former convent at the southern edge of the historic centre of Guimaraes, a classified heritage monument best known for its Baroque interior. Blue-and-white azulejo panels line the walls with hagiographic scenes from the life of Saint Anthony, set off by carved and gilded woodwork on the altars.

Church · GuimaraesPaid

Medieval City Walls of Guimaraes

The medieval walls that once ringed the old town of Guimaraes, the city Portugal calls its birthplace. Built to protect the settlement that grew below the castle, the surviving stretches still frame the UNESCO-listed historic centre and connect visually to Guimaraes Castle on the hill above.

Fortification · GuimaraesFree

Antigo Convento de Santa Clara

Former convent of the Poor Clares whose Baroque facade now fronts the Guimaraes City Hall (Camara Municipal). The exterior, public square, and classical cloister sit free to view on a walk through the UNESCO-listed historic centre, a short stroll from Largo do Toural and on the way up toward Guimaraes Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.

Convent · GuimaraesFree

Stadium of Vitoria SC

Home ground of Vitoria Sport Clube, one of Guimaraes's biggest institutions and a long-running Primeira Liga club. The Estadio D. Afonso Henriques was rebuilt to host Euro 2004 matches and is named after Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, who was a native of this city. Walking up to it and viewing the exterior costs nothing.

Stadium · GuimaraesFree

Guimaraes Castle

The 10th-century hilltop castle where Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, is traditionally said to have been born, which is why Guimaraes calls itself the birthplace of the country.

Castle · GuimaraesPaid

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

The Gothic collegiate church on Largo da Oliveira is the historic heart of Guimaraes and one of the most photographed spots in the city, thanks to the Gothic stone canopy, the Padrao do Salado, that stands in front of it. The square outside and that canopy shrine cost nothing to admire, which is where most of the value sits for budget travelers.

Church · GuimaraesPaid

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