Guimarães

According to archeological findings in Citânia (Castro) of Briteiros and Sabroso and Penha's archeologic site, the area in which Guimarães is located has had permanent settlements since the late Chalcolithic period.

There is also evidence of Roman occupation, and a stone dedicated to the Roman emperor Trajan found in Caldas das Taipas suggests that this was already a spa town in Roman times.[5]

Statue of Mumadona Dias, in front of the city court

Following the Reconquista policy promoted by the Kingdom of Galicia in the 9th century, the medieval foundations of the actual city have roots in the 10th century. At this point, the Countess Mumadona Dias, erected a monastery in her property of Vimaranes, which originated the fixation of people in the area known as "vila baixa" (downtown). At the same time, she ordered the construction of a castle on the hill area which became known as "vila alta" (uptown), to defend the settlement. To connect these to other areas, the Rua de Santa Maria was built.

The monastery became the "Real Colegiada" (Royal Collegiate church) and throughout time acquired importance due to the privileges and donations given to it by nobles and kings and it became a famous pilgrimage site.

Henry, Count of Portugal approved the first national foral possibly in 1096 (but not confirmed). The foral proves the growing importance of the village of Guimarães at that time, which was chosen as the capital of the County of Portugal.

On 24 June 1128, the "Batalha de São Mamede" (Battle of São Mamede) took place in Guimarães.

During the reign of king Denis, as the town was expanding, it was partially surrounded by a defensive wall. Meanwhile, mendicant orders settled in Guimarães and helped to mold the shape of the emerging city. Later, during the reign of John I, the wall was torn down and the two parts of the city (uptown and downtown) were finally united and the city began to expand outside its old walls.

Until the 19th century the structure of the city did not suffer many transformations besides the construction of a few more churches, convents and palaces. It was by the ending of the 19th century that new urbanistic ideas of hygiene and symmetry that the village, that was promoted to city by the Queen Maria II on 23 June 1853 had its greatest changes.

The complete demolition of the city walls was authorized and the creation of many streets and avenues could start at that point. The controlled process of urbanization permitted the conservation of the city's magnificent historical center.

Granite rock formations occupy the majority of the municipality but schist rocks can also be found in certain zones in the northwest of the municipality. On the southeast, clay can be found in stream bed of the Ave, Vizela and Selho rivers.

The municipality is delimited at north by the "Senhora do Monte" (Senhora hill), at northwest by the hills of Falperra, Sameiro, Outeiro and Penedice. To the south by the Penha hill which with height of 613 meters, it is the highest point of the municipality.

Guimarães is part of the drainage basin of Ave river which divides the municipality in half. The Ave river has as tributaries the Vizela river, Torto river, Febras river and inside the city, the Selho river, the Couros river and the Santa Lúzia stream.

Guimarães is located in a valley and surrounded by hills, and because there is some distance to the sea, the winter is normally cold and rainy and the summer is hot and lightly humid. The average annual temperature is 14 °C.

There is not much diversity, specially in the urban areas, but the municipality has some species of cynegetic interest such as: the red fox, the wild boar, the turtle dove, the thrush, the pigeon and the red-legged partridge. In the green areas of the city, the most common species are rodents, especially squirrels.

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 48 civil parishes (freguesias):[6]

In 2001, the population of the municipality was 159 576. In 2010, it is estimated that the population will reach 188 178 inhabitants. The population is constituted by 78 436 males and 81 140 females. Guimarães is the 13th biggest city in the country in terms of population.

Evolution of the population of the municipality of Guimarães (1801–2011)

Evolution of the population in the city center (1864–2011)

Joanina fair in Guimarães, where old activities are recreated such as the production of meat "cake"

The fact that since its beginning, Guimarães had a feminine monastery made much influence over its regional cuisine, specially its confectionery. "Tortas de Guimarães" (Guimarães' pies) and "Toucinho do céu" (normally translated as bacon from heaven) are a good example. Besides the customary Minho cuisine, the so-called "meat" cake is made here, which is a kind of bread in a pizza shape served with pork, sardines or other toppings.

• "Festas Gualterianas" (Gualteriana festival), in honor of Saint Gualter, take place since 1906 in the first weekend of August. The "Cortejo do Linho" (Linen parade) and the "Batalha das Flores" (Battle of the Flowers) are part of the festivities which are ended by the "Marcha Gualteriana" (Gualteriana march).
• "Nicolinas" are the festivities of the students of Guimarães, celebrated in honor of Saint Nicholas. The festivities start on 29 November and finish 7 December. They are composed of different celebrations; the "Pinheiro" is most widely attended. After a restaurant dinner, the participants parade the streets of Guimarães playing the "Toques Nicolinos" tune on drums. Latelly, it has been suggested that the "Nicolinas" should be a contender to be UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
• The Santa Luzia festivities in honor of honor Saint Lucy take place annually on 13 December, near to the chapel of Santa Luzia. The selling of traditional cakes made of rye and sugar, which are called "Sardão" and "Passarinha" (these names have sexual connotations in Portuguese). According to the tradition, a boy should offer a "Sardão", which has a phallic form, to the girl and if the girl was interested in dating the boy, she should reply with a "Passarinha".
• The "Big Romaria of São Torcato" is one of the biggest romarias in Minho, takes place annually in July in the village of São Torcato.

Centro Cultural Vila Flor

The city of Guimarães has several cultural spaces of reference at a regional and national level. Among the several museums of the city, the Alberto Sampaio museum is the one that stands out. Founded in 1928, it opened its doors to the public in 1931; it is located in the old site of the Canon the Collegiate of Our Lady of Oliveira (Cabido da Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira in Portuguese). It contains a rich collection of pieces from the 14th, 15th and 16th century, including one rare vest that was used by the king John I.

Headquarters of the Martins Sarmento Society

The Martins Sarmento Society (Sociedade Martins Sarmento in Portuguese) is one of the country oldest institutions dedicated to the study and preservation of archaeological artifacts. The society owns two museums: the Archaeological Museum of the Martins Sarmento Society, which is known by its prehistory and protohistory collections and also its numismatics and epigraphy collections; and the Castro Culture Museum which is dedicated to the Castro culture.

There is also: the Primitive Modern Arts Museum, located in the Domus Municipalis (the old city hall), which contains a collection of naïve art; the Museum of the Village of São Torcato, which is dedicated to the region and its relationship with the monastery and Saint Torcato (São Torcato in Portuguese); the Agriculture Museum of Fermentões, which exhibits collections of the traditional agricultural practices of the region; and the Museum of São Sebastião, inaugurated on 24 March 1984, which contains mainly sacred art.

Other cultural venues include:

• Vila Flor Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Vila Flor in Portuguese) is the main cultural venue in Guimarães. It was built in 2005, in a recovery of the old Vila Flor Palace and its surrounding area. It has two auditoriums, a concert-cafe and an exhibition gallery. The surrounding gardens of the old palace were also redone and in 2006, received an honorable mention in the Public Exterior Spaces category in the National Landscape Architecture Award.
• São Mamede – Guimarães Arts and Shows Center
• Raul Brandão Municipal Library has its headquarters in the city and also has branches in Pevidém, Caldas das Taipas and Ronfe. It offers its mobile library services to 42 parishes and services the city schools and prison.
• The Art Laboratory (Laboratorio das Artes in Portuguese) was founded in 2004 by ESAP students. It is a cultural space for exhibitions, performances, music and art workshops.
• Alfredo Pimenta National Archive, founded in 1931, contains the archives for municipality of Guimarães and also the Braga district.

Estádio D. Afonso Henriques

Guimarães has two major sports club, Vitória Sport Clube, whose football (soccer) team has been the city's representative in the Primeira Liga every year, having already conquered a Portuguese Cup in 2012/13 and a Portuguese Supercup in 1988, and Moreirense Futebol Clube, whose football (soccer) team is also in Primeira Liga for some years and already won the Portuguese Second Division in 2013/14 and the Portuguese League Cup in 2016/17. During Vitória SC European campaigns, the Portuguese team played against teams like Arsenal FC, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, Eintracht Frankfurt, Parma FC and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Vitória SC also has basketball, volleyball and water polo squads competing in the top divisions of their sports.

Guimarães ranks fourth in the country for available newspapers. The oldest was the "Azemel Vimaranense", founded in 1822; it possibly had its publication halted by the Vilafrancada incidents. From 1856, other newspapers start to appear, amongst them "A Tesoura de Guimarães". Actually the city's newspapers are:

There are two stations headquartered in the town: Radio Fundação (95.8 FM) and Radio Santiago (98.0 FM).

The Guimarães TV transmission is made online since 24 July 2007; it is the result of a collaboration between the city's assembly and the Guimarães Cybercenter. Its contents are feature in the Região Norte TV channel which is available through cable.

The "canalguimarães" is another online channel that started operating in March 2010. It is the fruit of the effort put in by an arts association, the "Associação de Socorros Mútuos Artística Vimaranense", one of the oldest associations of the city.

Guimarães is linked to Porto by the Guimarães line. This railway line was originally built with narrow gauge track, then modernised and rebuilt to the broad Iberian gauge in the first decade of the 21st century. The train service is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP). Locally, Guimarães is served by TUG (Transportes Urbanos de Guimarães) which operates 21 bus routes serving the city.

• Afonso I of Portugal (1111–1185) nicknamed "the Conqueror" by the Moors, whom he fought, was the first King of Portugal
• Paio Galvão (c. 1165–1230) a Leonese Cardinal and canon lawyer and a papal legate and leader of the Fifth Crusade
• Blanche of Portugal (1259–1321) an infanta, the firstborn child of King Afonso III of Portugal
• Gil Vicente (c. 1465–c. 1536) known as the Trobadour, a Portuguese playwright and poet, acted and directed his own plays
• Agostinho Barbosa (1589–1649) a prolific Portuguese writer on canon law, consecrated Bishop of Ugento in Italy in 1649

• Alfredo Pimenta (1882–1950) was a Portuguese historian, poet and writer, especially of the Middle Ages
• Abel Salazar (1889–1946) a Portuguese physician, lecturer, researcher, writer and painter
• Duarte Freitas do Amaral (1909–1979) a Portuguese politician, was a Deputy to the National Assembly of Portugal
• Elisabete Matos (born 1964) a Portuguese soprano
• Luís Marques Mendes (born 1957) a Portuguese lawyer and politician and former Leader of the Social Democratic Party
• Pedro Chagas Freitas (born 1979) a writer, journalist, writing teacher and public speaker on leadership, self-confidence, peak performance and life management
• Marisa Ferreira (born 1983) a Portuguese artist whose work includes both public art and geometric art
• Sofia Escobar (born 1984) a soprano singer and actress, particularly in West End musicals, in London
• Renato Freitas (born 1996) stage name Lizzy's Husband a Portuguese electronic music artist especially industrial electronica

• Francisco "Xico" Ferreira (1919–1986) a Portuguese footballer who made 278 pro appearances
• Domingos Castro (born 1963) a former long-distance runner, competed in the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics
• Dionísio Castro (born 1963) a former long-distance runner, he competed at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics
• Miguel Alberto Marques (born 1963) known as Miguel, is a Portuguese retired footballer, made 545 pro appearances
• Quim Berto (born 1971) a former professional footballer, 451 pro appearances
• Fernando Meira (born 1978) was a Portuguese footballer who played in Germany, Turkey and Russia, 534 pro appearances
• Pedro Mendes (born 1979) was a Portuguese footballer who played in England and Scotland, 525 pro appearances
• Domingos Alexandre Martins Costa (born 1979) known as Alex, is a former Portuguese footballer, 295 pro appearances
• Rui Jorge Faria Azevedo (born 1980) known as Faria, is a Portuguese goalkeeping footballer, over 250 pro appearances
• Ana Dulce Félix (born 1982) a long-distance runner, competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics marathon
• Custódio Castro (born 1983) known as Custódio, is a Portuguese retired footballer, made 342 pro appearances
• Paulo Monteiro (born 1985) a Portuguese footballer, has made 250 pro appearances
• Vieirinha (born 1986) a Portuguese footballer who plays in Greece
• João Sousa (born 1989) a Portuguese professional tennis player, ranked 36th by the ATP, Portugal's greatest tennis player
• Tiago André Coelho Lopes (born 1989) known as Rabiola was a Portuguese professional footballer
• Rui Bragança (born 1991) a Portuguese taekwondo practitioner, competes in the men's sub-58 kg (flyweight) category
• Carlos Miguel Ribeiro Dias (born 1993) known as Cafú is a Portuguese footballer who plays in France
• Pedro Carvalho (born 1995) is a Portuguese Bellator MMA fighter
• Miguel Silva (born 1995) is a Portuguese goalkeeper who plays in Vitória Sport Clube main team, 121 pro appearances