Top 50 things to do and attractions in Guimaraes (2024)

In Guimaraes, a visit to the Convento de São Francisco is a must. This historical site, established in the 13th century, showcases a blend of architectural styles from Gothic to Baroque. The exterior walls are adorned with captivating blue and white tiles, while inside, visitors can marvel at the magnificent gilded altar. The convent's history dates back to 1217 when the Franciscan Order was introduced in Guimaraes during the reign of D.

A great holy chapel with better music.

Jisheng A — Google review

(Translated by Google) A beautiful chapel. Full of tiles and a beautiful cloister. Now he helps the elderly with a silo where they care for them and watch over them so they can enjoy their last days.(Original)Una capilla preciosa. Llena de azulejos y con un claustro precioso. Ahora ayuda a los ancianos con una silo donde los cuidan y velan para que puedan disfrutar de sus últimos días.

Francisco D — Google review

(Translated by Google) TheConvent and Church of São Franciscoare located in theparishofSão Sebastião,municipalityofGuimarães,district of Braga, inPortugal.The history of theFranciscan Orderin Guimarães dates back to 1217, during the reign ofD. Afonso III, whenFr. Guálter, a minor friar sent to Portugal to introduce thismendicant orderin the country, arrived in the village. After a very precarious first period, the Franciscans of Guimarães settled in1271in a hostel located next to the town walls, in which they built a convent. In these early times, the friars often came into conflict with theCollegiate of Guimarães, which tried to prevent the installation of the order in the town.The Franciscan convent next to the walls would only last a short time, as in 1325 the building had to be demolished by order of D. Dinis, as it compromised the security of the town in the event of a siege. The friars moved to precarious houses until 1400, whenD. ​​João Iordered the rebuilding of the convent, in the location where it still stands. The work lasted for much of the 15th century. The church'sapse, which is still the original inGothic style, was finished around 1461. In that year, D. Constança de Noronha(1395-1480), 1stDuchess of Bragança, entered theThird Order of Saint Francisand, when she died , was buried in the church. The tomb with itslying profilecan still be seen inside.From the end of the 16th century, the cloister has a classic profile, an important work in theMannerist style. However, the biggest modification of the Modern Era occurred in the 1740s, when the church'snave was completely altered: the nave's arches and columns were suppressed, creating a unified space of thechurch-hall type. In the area between thetranseptand the nave, the three original arches were also replaced by a single monumental arch. Around this time, the new altarpiece for the main chapel was created, designed by Miguel Francisco da Silva and executed by Manuel da Costa Andrade, as well as several other gilded altarpieces that decorate the church.The medieval remains of the Convent of S. Francisco de Guimarães date back to the reconstruction carried out from 1400 onwards. The most notable from this period is the church'shead of the church, made up of a large polygonal centralapse flanked by twomuch smallerapses. The general scheme is thus similar to that of themendicant Gothiccommon in Portugal. The windows in the apse are large and subdivided by columns and frames; the decoration of thecapitalsand frames of these large windows show influence from theBattle Monastery. Inside, both the chancel and the sides of the apse are covered bycross vaults with warheads.Other Gothic elements, although without the quality of the chevet, are the main portal of the church and the portal of thechapter room, located in thecloister. The main portal, due to the almost absence of decoration and rough construction, looks more like a work from the Romanesque period.The interior of the church has a single nave with side chapels. This space is the result of a major renovation that took place between 1746 and 1749, which eliminated the divisions in the body of the church, which originally had three naves. A large triumphal arch separates the nave from the transept area, surmounted by the royal crown and the symbol of the Franciscan order. The wooden ceiling of the nave is decorated with illusionist paintings (trompe d'oeil). The walls of the transept are covered with white-blue tiles from the first half of the 18th century, of uncertain authorship.The Gothic chancel is separated from the transept by a large gildedarch. The chapel'sarched vaulthas on its clasps thecoat of armsofD. João I, the promoter of the work in the 15th century. A large gilded altarpiece, of excellent craftsmanship, occupies the chapel: it was commissioned from the carverManuel da Costa de Andradein 1743, who created it according to the design ofMiguel Francisco da Silva. It is inspired by the altarpiece in the chancel of thePorto Cathedraland served as a model for others in the region. Among itsSolomonic columnsare images of several Franciscan saints.From 1591 onwards thecloister was built, an important work in theMannerist style.(Original)OConvento e Igreja de São Franciscolocalizam-se nafreguesiadeSão Sebastião,concelhodeGuimarães,distrito de Braga, emPortugal.A história daOrdem Franciscanaem Guimarães remonta a 1217, em pleno reinado deD. Afonso III, quando chegou à vilafrei Guálter, um frade menor enviado a Portugal para introduzir estaordem mendicanteno país. Após um primeiro período muito precário, os franciscanos de Guimarães instalaram-se em1271numa albergaria localizada junto às muralhas da vila, na qual construíram um convento. Nestes primeiros tempos os frades entraram frequentemente em conflito com aColegiada de Guimarães, que tentou impedir a instalação da ordem na vila.O convento franciscano junto às muralhas duraria pouco tempo, pois em1325o edifício teve de ser demolido por ordem deD. Dinis, por comprometer a segurança doburgoem caso decerco. Os frades mudaram-se a umas casas precárias até 1400, quandoD. João Iordenou a reedificação do convento, no local onde ainda se encontra. A obra durou grande parte do século XV. Aábsideda igreja, que ainda é a original emestilo gótico, foi terminada por volta de 1461. Nesse anoD. Constança de Noronha(1395-1480), 1ªduquesa de Bragança, entrou naOrdem Terceira de São Franciscoe, ao morrer, foi sepultada na igreja. O túmulo com seuperfil jacenteainda pode ser visto no interior.De finais do século XVI é o claustro de perfil clássico, uma importante obra emestilo maneirista. Porém, a maior modificação da Era Moderna ocorreu na década de 1740, quando anavede igreja foi totalmente alterada: os arcos e colunas da nave foram suprimidos, criando um espaço unificado do tipoigreja-salão. Na área entre otranseptoe a nave, os três arcos originais foram também substituídos por um arco único monumental. Por essa época foi realizado o novoretábulodacapela-mor, da autoria deMiguel Francisco da Silvae executado porManuel da Costa Andrade, além de vários outros retábulos detalha douradaque decoram a igreja.Os vestígios medievais do Convento de S. Francisco de Guimarães datam já da reconstrução realizada a partir de 1400. O mais notável desta época é acabeceirada igreja, composta por uma grandeábsidecentral poligonal flanqueada por doisabsidíolosbastante menores. O esquema geral é, assim, semelhante ao dogótico mendicantecomum em Portugal. Os janelões da ábside são grandes e subdivididos por colunelos e molduras; a decoração doscapitéise molduras destes janelões mostram influência doMosteiro da Batalha. No interior, tanto a capela-mor como as laterais da cabeceira são cobertas porabóbadas de cruzaria de ogivas.Outros elementos góticos, ainda que sem a qualidade da cabeceira, são o portal principal da igreja e o portal dasala do capítulo, localizada noclaustro. O portal principal, pela quase ausência de decoração e rudeza na realização, parece mais uma obra do períodoromânico.O interior da igreja é denaveúnica com capelas laterais. Esse espaço é o resultado de uma grande reforma ocorrida entre 1746 e 1749 que suprimiu as divisões do corpo da igreja, originalmente de três naves. Um grande arco triunfal separa a nave da zona dotransepto, encimado pela coroa real e o símbolo da ordem franciscana. O tecto de madeira da nave é decorado com pinturas ilusionistas (trompe d'oeil). As paredes do transepto são cobertos com azulejos brancos-azuis da primeira metade do século XVIII, de autoria incerta.A capela-mor gótica é separada do transepto por um grande arco detalha dourada. Aabóbada de ogivasda capela possui nos fechos obrasãodeD. João I, o promotor da obra no século XV. Um grande retábulo de talha dourada, de excelente factura, ocupa a capela: foi encomendada ao entalhadorManuel da Costa de Andradeem 1743, que o realizou de acordo com o desenho deMiguel Francisco da Silva. É inspirado no retábulo da capela-mor daSé do Portoe serviu de modelo para outros da região. Entre suascolunas salomônicasestão as imagens de vários santos fransciscanos.A partir de 1591 foi construído oclaustro, uma importante obra emestilo maneirista.

João J — Google review

(Translated by Google) This São Francisco Chapel is extraordinary, with a superb collection to contemplate, as well as being very well preserved and therefore in a remarkable state of conservation, a must-visit for anyone who appreciates Sacred Art in its greatest splendour.(Original)Extraordinária esta Capela de São Francisco, com um soberbo acervo para contemplar, além de muito bem preservada por isso num estado de conservação assinalável, uma visita obrigatória para quem aprecia Arte Sacra no seu maior Esplendor.

Francisco B — Google review

(Translated by Google) Magnificent chapel, worth seeing!Wonderful chapel, must see!(Original)Chapelle magnifique, à voir !Wonderful chapel, must see !

Adrien R — Google review

(Translated by Google) One of the most beautiful churches I had the opportunity to visit. Worth the visit!(Original)Uma das igrejas mais bonitas que tive oportunidade de visitar. Vale a visita!

Bruno — Google review

(Translated by Google) Nice on the outside(Original)Bonito por fuera

Los P — Google review

(Translated by Google) What to say? Visit...(Original)Que dizer? Visitem...

Carlos L — Google review

😍😍😍

Marcello V — Google review

Top 50 things to do and attractions in Guimaraes (2024)
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