About the City
Guimarães is a unique and special city! It is distinguished by its heritage, its inspiring landscape, its entrepreneurial capacity, its sense of belonging and the dynamism if its inhabitants.
The origin of the city of Guimarães goes back to the tenth century since it was here, in 1128, that the Portuguese nation was founded and D. Afonso Henriques was recognised as the first king of Portugal.
The importance of its cultural worth and investment in its heritage resulted in a network of high quality infrastructures and renovation of the historical centre, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage, in 2001.
Guimarães is the seat of a densely populated district with more than 160 000 inhabitants, and as such is the second largest municipality outside the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto in terms of residents and has one of the youngest populations in Europe –almost 50% of its inhabitants are less than 30 years old.
Alongside the traditional significance of the textile industry, other sectors have emerged with a higher technological element and having a significant economic impact, confirming the strategic importance of the University of Minho as a generator of knowledge and innovation for the city and the region.
Come and get to know our unique region where customs and traditions from the past live alongside innovation and progress. There are infinite possibilities, from adventure to relaxation through to cultural pursuits, waiting to greet the visitor who chooses this authentic destination. For further information please consult the pages Guimarães Tourism and Porto and The North of Portugal.
Guimarães- European Capital of Culture 2012
In 2012, Guimarães will be hosting a major gathering of creators and creations: music, cinema, photography, fine arts, architecture, literature, thought, theatre, dance, street art. In Guimarães, the artistic products imagined and created by its residents will merge with those coming to the city from all over Europe. Over the course of one year, the city will be the promoter of Europe’s cultural diversity, revealing its creations and welcoming those from other countries.
(Text from "Guimarães European Capital of Culture 2012" and "Guimarães Tourism". Please visit these sites for more detailed information)