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The Pousada de Guimaraes - Nossa Sra. da Oliveira is located in the medieval historical centre of Guimaraes, traditionally known as the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. This Pousada 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 .
Accommodation:
The Pousada has
10 Rooms and 6 Suites. All the rooms are equipped with air conditioning / heating, mini-bar, telephone, cable TV, hair dryer,bathing gowns.
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 Guimaraes: Although is essentially a mediaeval town, Guimaraes 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 Joao Franco Square ) , its alignment would not be significantly altered.
Guimaraes, 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 Fundacao 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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