Cradle of the Nationality, as habitually is assigned, the city of Guimarães  possessed unequal characteristics that it distinguish of other Portuguese cities and do of  it a place of prominence in the History of Portugal. 
According to what says the tradition, will have been in Guimarães that was born and was baptized the one that, in 1179, it would come to be crowned the first King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques.

Monuments

The Castel
In the 10th century the Countess Mumadona Dias, after having been widowed, ordered the construction of a monastery in her estates at Vimaranes - today Guimarães.  The constant attacks by Moors and Normans lead to the construction of a fort to guard and defend the monks and the Christian community which lived in its purlieus.  Thus came into being the original castle.

The Palace of the Dukes of Bragança
It is a unique example on the Iberian Peninsula of a fortified house influenced by the manorial architecture of Northern Europe, typified by the steeply inclined roofs and cylindrical chimneys.

Traditional Festivals

Guimarães and its surrounding villages set the stage for a host of traditional festivals during the summer months, much like so many other cities and towns in the Minho province. The Gualterianas, the largest local festivities, take place during the first weekend in August, whereas the Nicolinas are held from Nov. 29 to Dec 7 and are organised by the local secondary school students.

Handicrafts

There is a strong tradition of arts and crafts in Guimarães. The “Lovers’ Coin Jar” (Cantarinha dos Namorados) is an example of how artisans have turned the cottage industry of handicrafts into an important local industry with dozens of businesses currently operating.
Linen embroidery, pottery, wrought iron, silverwork and filigree, basketry and wicker furniture, cutlery, stonecutting and masonry work are all examples of the burgeoning activity in traditional trades.

Gastronomy

The art of eating well has found a home in Guimarães thanks to the talents of many skilled cooks. To feast on the delicious local cuisine as often as possible, many residents of Guimarães, the Vimaranenses, save their pennies to eat out at least once a week, usually Saturday evening or Sunday lunch.
The local dishes are traditional recipes similar to those found in other places in the Minho and include farm-raised chicken with rice, rojões (roast pork) or bucho recheado (pork tripe stuffed with pork cubes), papas de sarrabulho (shredded pork in gravy thickened with blood) and rice with sarrabulho, baked or stuffed cod, all accompanied by “green wine” (vinho verde) from the Minho region.

Recipes for the traditional sweets of Guimarães were originated in local convents; the “heavenly fat” (toucinho do céu) is a dense cake which features shreds of cooked sweet pumpkin, and the tortas de Guimarães are croissant-shaped pastries.