Braga & Guimarães Full Day Private Tour
Barcelos – Braga – Guimarães
Barcelos
Barcelos is an ancient city, situated in an area that has archaeological remains dating back to prehistoric times.
A stroll around Barcelos must necessarily include the old fairground, now known as the Campo da República, where you will find the 18th-century churches of Bom Jesus da Cruz and Nossa Senhora do Terço and where Portugal’s largest handicraft fair is held every Thursday.
If you miss the weekly market (every Thursday), you should definitely visit the Ceramics Museum and Barcelos Handicraft Centre, where you can get a good general view of Minho arts and crafts. The brightly-coloured Barcelos Cockerel is the most representative of all the pieces produced here, but one should not forget the brass bands and the figures depicting the region´s customs and habits.
Braga
Braga is a lively city, one of the oldest in the country, and is teeming with young people who study at its universities.
Braga’s Cathedral is also the oldest in the country and was built in the 12th century by the parents of Portugal’s first King, D. Henrique and D. Teresa, who are buried there. Braga is to this day one of the country’s main religious centres, having the Holy Week Celebrations and the São João Festival as the highlights in its liturgical and tourist calendar.
Every visitor to Braga must see the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, a city icon, with its monumental staircase. Amid an expanse of greenery, it offers an excellent panoramic view of the city, as do two other churches nearby: Nossa Senhora do Sameiro Sanctuary, an important place of Marian worship, and Santa Maria da Falperra Church.
Guimarães
For Portuguese people, Guimarães has a very special symbolic value, for it was in a field close to the walls of its castle that D. Afonso Henriques fought the Battle of São Mamede, on 24 June 1128. By emerging victorious from this struggle against the army of D. Teresa, his mother and the daughter of Alfonso VI of León and Castile, Afonso Henriques began the process that would lead to the foundation of the kingdom of Portugal, of which he was to become the first king.
In the immediate vicinity is the Ducal Palace, now both a palace and a museum, originally built in the 15th century.
If you would like to see the city at its most magnificent, you should drive up the 7-kilometre road to the top of Monte da Penha, from where you will have the chance to enjoy one of the most impressive panoramic views in the north of Portugal.
Guimarães is considered the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques, who went on to be the first king of Portugal, was born here.
Departure time from pick up point: around 8am.
Expected time to end the trip: around 6pm (subject to change).
What’s included: confortable transportation, wifi, water, amenities, lunch at typical portuguese restaurant along the way.
Not included: entrance tickets (when applied).
Pricre: 350€ euros for 2 people, you can add another person for an extra of 50 euro.
