Pousada de Guimarães - Nossa Sra. da Oliveira Guimarães Northern Portugal Portugal
	The Pousada de Guimarães, Nossa Sra. da Oliveira is located in the medieval historical centre of Guimarães, traditionally known as the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. This charming hotel pousada has been successfully adapted from a private manor house, and offers all the comfort of modern amenities, while maintains the charm and privacy characteristics. From the windows you can enjoy looking over the church steeples and ancient rooftops, inviting you to get to know the surrounding Medieval streets, leading to the majestic monuments, so characteristic of the city.
It is part of the liveliness of the city, helping to reflect its century old traditions. Staying at this Pousada and walking through the narrow streets that lead to the castle and to the Palace of the Dukes, is like discovering the history of Portugal. Gastronomy - Specialty Restaurant Menu Fish soup Codfish au gratin with smoked ham Rabbit stew Crème brulée
Nearest Pousadas: Geres 41Km Amares 36Km Guimarães (Sta Marinha) 3Km Marão 55Km Fairs and Markets: Guimarães City Festivals (Guimarães) Nicolinas (Students Festival) Our Lady of Light (Creixomil) 27's Festival (S. Trocato) Lapinha Festival (Lapinha) Sto. Amaro Fair	Interesting Places: Guimarães Castle Dukes of Bragança Palace Alberto Sampaio Museum Penha hill São Miguel Church (romanesque style) Nossa Sra. da Oliveira Church São Francisco Church Briteiros Roman Ruins Pousada History
Hotel Facilities:
Castle Experience Game Room Golf Horse riding Medieval Village Palace Experience	Activities - At the Pousada: Family games Outside the pousada: Shooting range Golf Course Horse riding
Rooms:
10 Rooms and 6 Suites is the capacity of this Pousada. The rooms are equipped with: AC Cable TV Mini-bar Hair drier Bathing Gowns Phone
	Guimaraes, birthplace of Portugal, is located in the northwestern part of the country, 55 Km from Oporto. Location: Distance to Airport: 54 km (Porto) Nearest Pousadas : Pousada de Guimarães-Santa Marinha 3 km Pousada de Amares 36 km Pousada de Gerês/Caniçada 41 km

Pousada History:

The Pousada has been successfully adapted from a private manor house, and offers all the comfort of modern amenities, while maintains the charm and privacy characteristics.

From the windows you can enjoy looking over the church steeples and ancient rooftops, inviting you to get know the surrounding Medieval streets, leading to the majestic monuments, so characteristic of the city, as the birthplace of Portugal.

History of Guimarães:

Although is essentially a mediaeval town, Guimarães has its origins in the distant 10th century. It was at this time that the Countess Mumadona Dias, widow of  Hemengildo Mendes ordered the construction of a monastery which became the focal point for a settlement. For its defence she ordered a Castle to be built on a hill a short distance away, thus creating a second nucleus of development. A street grew-up linking one to the other - the Santa Maria Road.

Later the monastery acquired great importance due to the privileges and donations bestowed on it by kings and nobility.  It became a famous centre for pilgrimage attracting the prayers and promises of the faithful drawn from all quarters.
While the town continued to grow inside the walls which were erected to defend it, the orders of poor friars arrived in Guimarães and made their contribution to shaping the town. The twin nuclei subsequently merged into one, so that by the 15th century the lay-out of the city within the walls had been established.

Although there would still be the construction of some churches, monasteries and palaces and the creation of the Misericordia Square (now  João Franco Square) , its alignment would not be significantly altered.

It was from the end of the 19th century, with the advent of new ideas on public health and town planning, that Guimarães, raised to the status of city in 1853 by Queen D. Maria II, would undergo major changes.

The demolition of the city walls was authorised and encouraged. New squares such as Largo de Carmo (today Martins Sarmento square) and Largo Condessa de Juncal were opened, as well as new streets and avenues. Later the Colina da Fundação was landscaped and the Alameda was created. However, almost everything was done in harmony with the conservation of its historic town heart.

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Latest update: August 12, 2010