Guimarães
Municipality and city in Norte, Portugal / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Guimarães (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡimɐˈɾɐ̃jʃ] ⓘ) is a city and municipality located in northern Portugal, in the district of Braga. Its historic town centre has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, in recognition for being an "exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town" in Europe. The Nicolinas are the city's main festivities.[1]
Guimarães | |
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Top: Palace of the Dukes of Braganza; middle: Santos Passos Church; Castle of Guimarães; Historic Centre of Guimarães; bottom: Toural Square; Oliveira Square. | |
Coordinates: 41°27′N 8°18′W | |
Country | Portugal |
Region | Norte |
Intermunic. comm. | Ave |
District | Braga |
Parishes | 48 |
Government | |
• President | Domingos Bragança (PS) |
Area | |
• Total | 241.3 km2 (93.2 sq mi) |
Population (2019) | |
• Total | 152,309 |
• Density | 630/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC±00:00 (WET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
Website | www |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv) |
Reference | 1031 |
Inscription | 2001 (25th Session) |
Area | 19.45 ha (48.1 acres) |
Buffer zone | 99.23 ha (245.2 acres) |
Guimarães is also referred as the capital of the Ave Subregion (one of the most industrialised subregions in the country), and it’s located in the historical Minho Province. The municipality has a population of 152,309 inhabitants according to the most recent data of 2019 in an area of 240.95 square kilometres (93.03 sq mi).[2] The current Mayor is Domingos Bragança, of the Socialist Party. Guimarães, along with Maribor, Slovenia, was the European Capital of Culture in 2012.
The city was settled in the 9th century, at which time it was called Vimaranes. This name might have had its origin in the warrior Vímara Peres, who chose this area as the main government seat for the County of Portugal which he conquered for the Kingdom of Galicia. Guimarães has a significant historical importance due to the role it played in the foundation of Portugal. The city is commonly referred to as the "birthplace of Portugal" or "the cradle city" (Cidade Berço in Portuguese) because it was in Guimarães that Portugal's first King, Afonso Henriques was born, and also due to the fact that the Battle of São Mamede – which is considered the seminal event for the foundation of the Kingdom of Portugal – was fought in the vicinity of the city.[3] It was declared the most beautiful small city in Europe by the Condé Nast Traveler magazine in 2022.[4]