Begin in Braga, a city boasting over 200 years of history and a rich Roman legacy.

Explore the sanctuaries and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of this ancient city. Next, venture to Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a delicious typical lunch in a historic monument before exploring the historic city center and its iconic landmarks.

The adventure continues with a delightful Vinho Verde and cheese tasting, followed by a leisurely stroll through the enchanting gardens of a vineyard estate.

Included:

• Confortable transportation on a Minibus with A/C
• Professional Guide
• Traditional lunch with drinks included (if selected)
• Admission ticket at Braga's Cathedral
• Admission Ticket at Guimarães Castle
• Porto City Walking Tour (available from the day after your experience)

Itinerary:

• Your expert guide will collect you from your hotel/accommodation or meeting point and will drive you to Braga, our first stop. On your way to the Minho Region, your guide will give you insights regarding the Portuguese history, development and cultural facts of Portuguese heritage.
• Later, we will go to our second stop: Bom Jesus Sanctuary, famous not only for its religious importance, but also for its architecture, its famous stairway and vertical tram, an impressive piece of 19th century engineering. This was the first of its kind to be installed in Portugal in 1882 and continues to use a water-powered system to power up the 300-meter slope in just 3 minutes. The church was built later (1784) by Carlos Amarante who gave it an Italian-inspired Neo-classical design, which integrates itself harmoniously with the landscape of northern Portugal. The stairway leading to the top contains 17 landings adorned with symbolic fountains, allegoric statues and other Baroque-style decoration with themes such as the Stations of the Cross, the Five Senses, the Virtues, Moses receiving the Commandments and, at the top, the eight biblical figures that contributed to the Condemnation of Jesus. Any visit must take in the view from the bottom of the Stairway. Looking upwards there are the ornate granite fountains on the various landings and the white, chalice-shaped outline on which the church itself "sits".
• The first cathedral is older than the country itself. The Cathedral of Braga was the first Portuguese cathedral, erected several decades before the founding of Portugal. It began to be built at the end of the 11th century, and was consecrated and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Bishop Pedro in a solemn session on August 28, 1089. It rivals the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, and is the jewel of the city. D. Henrique and D. Teresa, parents of the first king of Portugal, were buried in the Chapel of Kings.
• It's now time for a break. If you chose the lunch-included option the guide will take you to a local restaurant where you will have a delicious traditional Portuguese meal with drinks included. Try the very famous "Vinho Verde" wine, a white wine with unique characteristics. If you decided to not to include lunch on your tour, you will have free time and restaurant options to lunch on your own or further explore Braga's old city center. (Vegetarian option during lunch is available, make sure you request it during the booking process)
• After lunch, we will go on a short drive to Guimarães: Is considered the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques, who went on to be the first king of Portugal, was born here. The castle's presence evokes the exciting mixture of legend, poetry and heroism that surrounds the beginning of Portuguese history. On this Monte Largo (Broad Hill), the nucleus of the future nation of Portugal was first developed. In circa 968, Mumadona, the countess of Galicia, ordered a castle to be built on this site, where the population could seek refuge from the constant attacks unleashed upon them by the hordes of Vikings, who arrived by sea from the north of Europe, and the Muslims, who made raids from the territories that they occupied in the south.
• On taking over the governorship of the province known as Portucalense from his father-in-law, Alfonso VI of León, Count Henry ordered another larger and more solid construction to be built. This represented the beginning of the important defensive structure that we can now see today, dominated by the square keep that stands between the four towers guarding each of the four corners of the walls. Although this is not strictly documented, it is very likely that the building that stands against the inner part of the northern wall was the residence of Count Henry and the birthplace of his son Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal.
• The small church of S. Miguel do Castelo was built in the 13th century. However, according to tradition, this church would have been built in the 12th century by Count Dom Henrique (Henry of Burgundy), where he would have baptised his son, the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques. Of Romanic style and reduced dimensions, this church reveals great simplicity in terms of decoration. Inside, under the floor of this church lie buried the great warriors of the nation’s founding period.
• The historic center in the area that was within the Guimarães city walls, is associated with the formation and identity of Portugal, and was classified a World Heritage site based on the originality and authenticity applied in its restoration. The city still has a harmonious, well-preserved heritage that is evident in the graceful iron verandas, granite balconies and porticos, mansions, arches connecting the narrow streets, paving slabs smoothed by time, towers and cloisters. For a moment you might imagine yourself to be in a medieval setting, where the nobility built their houses over time, such as the Mota Prego house, the Vila Flor and Toural palaces, and the many others that give Guimarães its unique atmosphere.