The cradle of Portugal - the northern cities of Guimarães and Braga

Let's start our day with an excursion to the cradle of Portuguese statehood - Guimarães. The city is small in terms of the number of inhabitants, but great for the history of the country. Why? The answers are in place when we admire the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza and the fortress of Guimarães.

After, we will go for a walk through the historical center of the city, which received the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the diversity of architecture of the 15th-19th centuries. We will admire the cute facades of ordinary citizens, as well as the facades of the mansions of the city's rich. Among the attractions we visited in Guimarães in the city center will be the Church of Our Lady of the Olive Tree, the Church of St. Francis and the leather tanning complex. You will learn why the branches of the olive tree are depicted on the coat of arms of the city.

After Guimarães, we will continue our day with an excursion to the city of Braga - Portuguese Rome, the city of the archbishops. Today there are 49 churches and chapels in Braga! At one time, it was Braga that was the spiritual center of the Iberian Peninsula.

After a tour of the historical center of Braga, with a mandatory visit to the oldest cathedral in Portugal, the park of St. Barbara, the Republic Square and lunch in a cozy restaurant with a baked goat or octopus, we are on our way out of town, to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. We will go up to the church on a hydraulic funicular of the 19th century, leaving the car in the parking lot.

 From the observation deck of the sanctuary, a delightful panorama of Braga and its surroundings opens up. Everyone who has visited the sanctuary agrees on one thing - the place has tremendous positive energy! Well, you will have the opportunity to test this statement. We will go down to the car on foot, first along the snow-white baroque staircase with “philosophical” fountains, and then along the forest road, symbolizing Passion of Jesus.

Please note that the tour can take place both on my car and on your car.

Tour of Braga can be replaced by the tour of Barcelos.