Guimaraes

We decided to stay in Guimaraes for another day. In the late morning we walk to the cable car, which is about 10 minutes away and takes us down into the valley.

We explore the old town. Guimaraes is considered the birthplace of Portugal. Independence from the Kingdom of Leon was only achieved in 1139 by Dom Afonso Henriques with a victory over the Moors. The new kingdom was not officially recognized until 1143 by Afonso VIII, King of Castile-Leon. The first capital was Guimaraes.

zFirst we walk along the old city walls to the Paco dos Duques de Baranca Palace. However, we do not visit the museum, but instead stroll through the alleys. It is lunchtime and there are plenty of busy restaurants in the idyllic squares.

We just have a coffee and then head back to the cable car, which takes us back to the Montanha da Penha mountain.