Minho Tour Private (Braga and Guimarães) Full Day

based on 54 reviews

Duration:9 hours (approx.)
Location: Porto, Northern Portugal

From $142.4

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A full day tour filled with history and content, acompanied with an expert guide who will lead you through Braga and Guimarães on a 8 hours private tour. Find out the famous Triângle of faith in Braga and the well-known Guimarães Castle one of the 7 wonders of Portugual. Discouver the beauty of Bom Jesus Sanctuary and Sameiro both reciving many visitors every year.

At Guimarães, known as the brith of the nation, has one of the most beautill historical centres of the country. walk along the old town feeling like you've returned to medieval times.

You'll be given many important references about each city during the day by the guide who will show you the most important sights, monuments and places. Apreciate also the local gastronomy on a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Porto
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.
2. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro
The first stop and visit will be at the highest point of our tour: Sitting at the top of the hill of the same name, at 566 metres of altitude, the Shrine of Our Lady of Sameiro is one of the most visited places of Marian worship in Portugal, providing a privileged view over the city of Braga. Every year attracting many devotees, especially during the pilgrimages of the first Sunday of June and the third Sunday of August.
3. Bom Jesus Funicular
Sitting at the top of the hill of the same name, at 566 metres of altitude, the Shrine of Our Lady of Sameiro is one of the most visited places of Marian worship in Portugal, providing a privileged view over the city of Braga. Every year attracting many devotees, especially during the pilgrimages of the first Sunday of June and the third Sunday of August.
4. Se de Braga
The first cathedral, older than Portugal. The Cathedral of Braga was the first Portuguese cathedral, erected several decades before the founding of the country. It began to be built at the end of the 11th century, and was concecrated and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Bishop Pedro in a solemn session on August 28, 1089. Competing in power with 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, are buried in the Chapel of Kings.
5. Braga
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 caracteristics. 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 to explore a bit more Braga's old city center. (Vegetarian option during lunch is available, make sure you request it during the booking process)
6. Guimaraes
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.
7.
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 to 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.
8. Igreja de Sao Miguel do Castelo
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 1st 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
9. Centro Historico de Guimaraes
The historical centre 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 mediaeval 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.

ADDITIONAL INFO

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Posted By : mauriziocI3828YN
Castro Is an amazing guide...
He explained very well every historical aspect of the tour!!
We recomnend him !!

Thank you!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 12:46:46

Posted By : garycD4987KI
Bruce was an amazing tour guide. We very much appreciate his knowledge and detailed preparations. Elizabeth was a very skilled driver. We highly recommend this tour.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-06 12:18:23

Posted By : thuongt2017
We had a great time with Andre Vidal. He was very knowledgeable and engaging with the history. We can tell he enjoyed his job. This was our 4th tour in Portugal and he was the best guide.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-28 17:13:42

Posted By : T3266URemmaf
Despite the bad weather, the tour was very nice and the guide was very smiling and friendly, so the visit went very well,

Thanks André!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-28 11:39:43

Posted By : Lisa_E
George was an excellent tour guide! He is extremely knowledgable, efficient and communicates flawlessly!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-10 14:24:01

Posted By : valterbX219PS
Nice itinerary. Good organizational time and lunch
A trained and helpful guide professionally introduced us to what we would see
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-08 11:44:18

Posted By : L3643KHlizt
The bus fish-tailed on the highway because of excessive speed during wind and rain conditions. Passengers felt unsafe and abandoned the tour at the destination.

Being a bi-lingual tour, it created wait times with no information. The information was not equally presented.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-02 11:57:57

Posted By : Guide49883828364
Tiago, the guide, made us have a great day explaining many things on the excursion. Daria the driver took us perfectly from one place to another.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-02-20 12:13:28

Posted By : Gerasim_G
Wonderful day trip to Braga and Guimaraes! Nuno, our guide was excellent: knowledgeable, friendly and patient. The trip was well organized and the lunch was delicious! Highly recommended!!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-02-06 15:46:43

Posted By : OonaghL
Decided to go on this tour whilst visiting Porto. Excellent trip. Ines Rodriguez in the ticket office of livingtours.com at Sao Bento was very friendly and helpful. She even remembered my name when we went back to book another trip (it's a difficult enough Irish name to spell as it is 😬. Our guide Antonio was very informative, helpful and friendly. The coach was very clean and comfortable. The Portuguese lunch in Guimaraes was beautiful. 3 courses with breads and salads included.
My only negative is that we didn't get a lot of time to spend at Bom Jesus which is absolutely stunning.
Fantastic trip non the less
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-02-02 17:53:39