Cheap Flights to Guimaraes

Guimarães is a historic town associated with the Portuguese national identity’s emergence during the 12th century. The town is exceptionally well-preserved and the building typology is rich with perfect samples of 15th to 19th century Portuguese architecture.

Every year, millions of tourists take cheap flights to Guimarães to take a look at the buildings and monuments which have been constructed using traditional building techniques and materials. While booking hotels in Guimarães, it is advisable to opt for those which are present in old buildings and perhaps were actually houses which have been renovated and now used as hotels. This would add a dash of ethnicity and Portuguese cultural flavour to your trip.

There are a number of constructions of stone which were built during 950-1498. Exploring these architectural wonders is no less a reason for tourists to catch cheap flights to Guimarães and visit the town. There are various types and kinds of buildings, each of which bears testimony to the rich architecture and style of the particular period in which it was built. One characteristic of the residential buildings is the use of two types of construction techniques – one boasting of an entire timber structure which was used from 19th century and the other of a half-timbered structure with granite, sun-dried brick filling and clay mortar. The latter technique came into use from the 16th century.

There are a number of monuments to be seen by normal tourists, which include a medieval castle which was built on the site of the 10th century’s first fort. There is Sao Miguel do Castelo, a tiny Romanesque church near the castle. Another church called Nossa Senhora da Oliveira is also a must-see. There is a square in its front which has a gothic arch dating back to the 14th century.

Another huge tourist attraction is the Dukes of Braganca’s Palace which is built from stone and is found underneath the hill where the castle is situated. The building is considered to be a symbol of pride for the Braganca family. This large complex has a single main floor which has large doors that open to a balcony. There are open arcades in the ground floor.