North Region

The Northern region of Portugal is a land of dense vegetation and profound historic and cultural wealth. Possessing many natural parks, the biggest of them, the Peneda-Gerês National Park that includes an area of 702.90 km2, this region can be […]

The Northern region of Portugal is a land of dense vegetation and profound historic and cultural wealth.
Possessing many natural parks, the biggest of them, the Peneda-Gerês National Park that includes an area of 702.90 km2, this region can be called “The Lungs of Portugal”.
But, not only the lungs, also its heart.
Guimarães was the birthplace of this country, by the hand of his first king Afonso Henriques.
Many cities in this region have a huge importance in the commercial fabric of Portugal.
Cities like Porto, called by the locals has the Capital of the North, Braga, Guimarães, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo.
But not only in the fabric, also in the export, of arts, thinking, knowledge, culture, to its capital Lisboa or to the world.

Splash of history

Many were the peoples who inhabit this region, from Celts, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Germanic, or even the Moors and the Vikings.
This multicultural background his probably the reason why, the locals of this region, are so open minded, and easy going with people who visited them from all over the world.
The cradle of this nation is considered to be the city of Guimarães, where major political and military events took place in the year of 1128.
King Afonso Henriques, the first of Portugal, led to the independence from the Kingdom of Galicia, ruled by his own father, Henry Count of Portugal.
Guimarães, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, for being an exceptional well preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement, into a modern town in Europe.
So modern that in 2012 it was named European Capital of Culture.
Another town to consider a visit is definitely Ponte de Lima.
This is the oldest vila in Portugal, it is named after the long medieval bridge (ponte) that passes over the Lima river.
Its was historically significant as a Roman settlement in the road from Braga to Santiago de Compostela.
This bridge was the only crossing point of the Lima river in the medieval age, therefore, it was a walled city, many were and still are, the pilgrims who cross it in the walk to Santiago the Compostela.
Throughout the ages, Ponte de Lima has thus added to its natural beauty magnificent Gothic, mannerist, baroque, neoclassical and nineteenth century facades, significantly increasing the historical, cultural and architectural value of this unique corner in all of Portugal.

What to see and do

As a former medieval settlement, Guimarães has a castle!
Here you can smell the birth of a nation, and imagine the bravery of knights, or the love of kings and queens.
A visit you can’t miss its to the Palace of the Dukes, and witness the spectacular collection of pieces from the Renaissance and Flemish or Persian rugs.
And if you are in Guimarães, paddle throw the historic centre and feel the narrow street roads, and the charm of its locals.
In Ponte de Lima, why not cross the medieval bridge, and gaze the river, when you reach the other bank, you will find the curious Chapel of the Guardian Angel with an image of Saint Michael.
Every second Monday, the town holds the largest country market of Portugal, and if you are there in the second weekend of September, you can experience the Feiras Novas (the new fairs), a huge folklore and gastronomy event, that gathers hundreds of thousands of people.

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