Guimarães (European Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡimɐˈɾɐ̃jʃ] ⓘ) is a city and municipality located in northern Portugal, in the district of Braga.

The municipality has a population of 156,830 inhabitants according to the most recent data of 2021[2] in an area of 240.95 square kilometres (93.03 sq mi).

This name might have had its origin in the warrior Vímara Peres, who chose this area as the main government seat for the County of Portugal which he conquered for the Kingdom of Galicia.

In 1128, major political and military events that would lead to the independence and the birth of a new nation took place in Guimarães.

At this point, the Countess Mumadona Dias, erected a monastery in her property of Vimaranes, which led to the settlement of people in the area known as "vila baixa" (downtown).

At the same time, she ordered the construction of a castle on the hill area which became known as "vila alta" (uptown), to defend the settlement.

The monastery became the "Real Colegiada" (Royal Collegiate church) and throughout time acquired importance due to the privileges and donations given to it by nobles and kings and it became a famous pilgrimage site.

The foral proves the growing importance of the village of Guimarães at that time, which was chosen as the capital of the County of Portugal.

It was by the ending of the 19th century that new urbanistic ideas of hygiene and symmetry that the village, that was promoted to city by the Queen Maria II on 23 June 1853 had its greatest changes.

To the south is the Monte da Penha, which is the highest point of the municipality, with a height of 613 metres (2,011 ft) above mean sea level.

The Ave river has as tributaries the Vizela, Torto, Febras and inside the city, the Selho, the Couros and the Santa Lúzia stream.

Summers tend to be lightly humid and hot, though still with some oceanic moderation compared to other locations further inland.

There is not much diversity, especially in the urban areas, but the municipality has some species of cynegetic interest such as: the red fox, the wild boar, the turtle dove, the thrush, the pigeon and the red-legged partridge.

Administratively, the municipality of Guimarães is divided into 48 civil parishes (freguesias), previously having 69, but some of these were extinct and merged in 2013, after a nationwide territorial reorganization.

Guimarães was elected by The New York Times one of the 41 places to go in 2011 and called it one of the Iberian Peninsula's emerging cultural spots.

Besides what is usual in Minho, such as "vinho verde" , "Papas de sarrabulho" (a pig meat and blood porridge), "Rojões" (stewed pig meat served with potatoes and entrail sausage), etc., the so-called "Bôla de carne"[12] (Meat cakes) is also made here, consisting of a type of bread (shaped like a pizza) served with toucinho (bacon), sardines or other toppings.The city of Guimarães has several cultural spaces of reference at a regional and national level.

Vitória SC also has handball, basketball, volleyball and water polo squads competing in the top divisions of their sports.

The Guimarães Cable Car, a gondola lift, links the city centre with the top of Monte da Penha.