Private Braga and Guimarães Tour

Tour highlights

Cinquecentist Guimarães’ centre

Lose yourself in the streets, the colours and history of the this city. If you are ever in Portugal between June 23rd and June 26th, come see Guimarães through the “Feira Afonsina”. It is recreation fair of medieval times throughout the historic center, an unforgettable experience.

Church of Our Lady of the Olive Tree and the Salado Pattern

It is one of the most significant examples of Gothic architecture in the north of the country. In front of the church we find the Salado Monument, also in gothic style. It commemorates the Battle of Salado, which took place in 1340 against the Moors in southern Spain. Both have been classified as a National Monument since 1910.

Toural Square

One of the most central and important squares of Guimarães, considered to be the heart of the city. In the 17th century it started as a square by the main gate of the town and a place to sell bulls and other goods.

Castle of Guimarães

HERE PORTUGAL WAS BORN! The castle is recognised by many as the castle that, by excellence, is linked to the origins of Portugal. Considered ‘The First of Portugal’, in which rests the very foundation of the Portuguese nationality. Since 1908, it has been classified as a National Monument, and, since 2007, informally as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

Ducal Palace

This 18th century Palace is located in the historical center of Guimarães and is classified as a National Monument. Since the 15th century, it was once an imposing manor residence of the Dukes of Bragança, later used as military barracks. And today, as the Museum and Official Residence of the President of the Republic. Here you can observe a collection of art objects, mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Bracara Augusta

It’s the oldest city in Portugal and it played a very important role in the development of the Roman occupation in the region. You can relive the times of Bracara Augusta through the “Braga Romana” event, which usually takes place in late May. It is a recreation fair of historical events of the Roman era through the center of the city of Braga.

Braga’s Cathedral

Also known as Sé of Braga, it is considered a center of episcopal radiance and one of the most important Romanesque temples in the country. It’s one of the country’s oldest church, and its 1st Mass dates back to the XI century. Here you find the tombs of Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portucale and his wife, Teresa of León, parents of Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. It has been classified as a National Monument since 1910.

Santa Barbara Garden

Next to the medieval wing of the Paço Episcopal Bracarense, we find this fairytale municipal public garden. In its center is a seventeenth-century fountain, which originally belonged to the former Convent of Remédios, topped by a statue of Santa Bárbara, which gives the garden its name. Since July 9, 2018, it has been classified as a Cultural Asset of Municipal Interest.

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte

A true jewel of the Portuguese Baroque architecture. It is a Catholic sanctuary consisting of an architectural and landscape set. A church elevated to a basilica in 2015, that the architect Carlos Amarante designed, and the then Archbishop of Braga, D. Gaspar de Bragança commissioned. A staircase divided into three loops: The Portico Steps, the Five Senses Steps, and the Three Virtues Steps. Together they overcome an unevenness of 116 meters.The stunning Bom Jesus Park with several gardens and artificial lakes. And, the Bom Jesus Elevator, inaugurated in 1882, which connects the upper part of Braga to the Sanctuary. It is currently the oldest in the world to use the water counterweight system. UNESCO has classified the Sanctuary as a National Monument and declared it a World Heritage Site as of 2019.