Guimaraes is located an hour and twenty minutes by train from Porto. Its Historic Center, a narrow area of about 850 meters from North to South, contains many buildings that were constructed during Medieval Times right after Portugal became a nation. And so, in 2001 Guimaraes was designated a World Heritage Site by the UN. Born in Guimaraes, the first king of Portugal was Afonso I. Highly revered by the citizens of the city, Afonso's image is used as the logo for the local soccer team.
So which train will take me to Guimaraes, Portugal.
Ah, that must be it over there... that one waiting at the platform.
It takes an hour and twenty minutes to get there from Porto.
The first king of Portugal was born in Guimaraes.
It seems that my journey is going to take me back in history.
Oh, look, there's Guimaraes!
Well, I wonder what aspects of this town's history I'll encounter and what kind of people will I be meeting?
It's ten o'clock in the morning.
There's not a cloud in the sky.
It feels great!
Hmm, I think that Historic Center is located somewhere around here.
Which way should I go?
Better check the map first.
Guimaraes' Historic Center is a narrow area of about 850 meters from North to South and contains many buildings
that were constructed right after Portugal became a nation in the medieval times.
And so in 2001, Guimaraes was designated a World Heritage Site by the UN.
Oh, I just remembered, because Guimaraes is the birthplace of Portugal's first king, the wall of the entrance
to the Historic Center is inscribed with the words, "Portugal Was Born Here."
I'd like to see that!
But where's the entrance wall?
Maybe those men talking over there are locals.
I'll ask them.
Good morning!
Hey, she's looking at you.
Don't hit me!
Hello!
Hey! Look over there!
Why, you...!
You seem to be good friends...
- We've been buddies for a long time.
- Yeah, a real long time.
We take walks every day and chat
to pass the time until lunch.
I heard that there is a sign around here somewhere that says, "Portugal Was Born Here."
That's right. This is the cradle
of Portugal.
So it's around here?
Huh, where?
It's under renovation, but it says
"Portugal Was Born Here."
That's what it says.
Oh, so I won't be able to see it. I really wanted to see it!
Well, I guess I'll have to wait till next time.
Okay, no sense moping, time to refocus. On to the Historic Center.
Wow, the houses lining this street look so historically traditional. I'm going to check the guidebook.
The building in front of me is a church called Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira.
Built in the 14th century, it continues to attract worshipers.
Ah, good morning!
And here I am at the center of the city, Oliveira Square, a great starting point for today's sightseeing.
And once I pass through these stone archways, I will be in Santiago Square, right up ahead.
Wow. The houses facing this square were built in the 14th and 15th centuries.
And amazingly enough, people are still living in them.
It must be really nice to live in a home that is tied to the historical tradition of the city.
Ah, there are no clouds in the sky, and the sun is burning so brightly!
I have to be careful not to get a sunburn!
Hmm. What's this place?
Oh! A market! So many people...
Everyone's carrying shopping bags.
This looks like a flower stand.
May I ask what you bought?
Ah, just as I thought, flowers!
For Easter. We wanted flowers
for our table.
Oh, Easter!
Enjoy the holiday.
Oh, I forgot! It's almost Easter.
Oh, my, where's that rabbit going? Huh?
I wonder why...
Oh, it looks like these rabbits are being sold for food.
And over there it looks they are selling some chickens.
Good morning!
Good morning.
You seem busy today.
Yes, the Easter holiday's begun
so everyone's here shopping.
Must be hard work.
Yes, it's time to make money.
Open it up.
Our chickens are the best.
- We get them from the south.
- Best quality!
- Rosa's young chickens.
- Fresh from the farm!
Close the bag. That's all of them.
Take care of it.
How long have you been doing this kind of work?
Let's see, now...
Around 50 years.
We'd better get going, Fernando.
How nice that you and your wife get to work together.
Good and bad.
Rosa's 73, and I'm 72.
Let Fernando carry it.
Excuse me. I have a delivery to make.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you while you were working.
I'm loading them now.
I know, I know!
My husband might be old,
but he's still a good earner!
I do understand everyone has to make a living.
I'm making deliveries to escape
nagging. Happy Easter!
Thank you! Happy Easter to you, too!
Like port wine...
What? Port wine?
What do you mean?
Both port wine and my husband
improve with age.
Ha, ha! I'm sure you're right!
Hello!
What are they selling here?
Looks like dried fish...
Salted cod.
Ah, Bascalhau is salted cod?
Yes.
Bascalhau?
It's good with onions and
olives in a salad.
With olive oil, pepper, and garlic.
Sounds delicious!
Do you specialize in salted cod?
Yes. That's all we sell.
There are so many different kinds!
How are they different?
- That one isn't cut.
- That's big!!
The smaller ones are good with
potatoes or eggs,
or you can make croquettes.
Which one is the most expensive?
These here are the highest quality.
I see.
The highest quality are thick.
- Put it in here.
- I came shopping today for this.
Hello!
- What will you cook, Maria?
- Mixed tempura.
- Mixed tempura?
- Yes.
Mixed tempura with salted cod!
- Not gratin?
- No, mixed tempura's better.
- How about that, Maria?
- I'm sure it's good, but expensive.
Looks like an airplane!
Ha, ha!
Rich people eat the thick ones.
While poor people work
themselves to the bone.
But you can buy that.
Yes, we eat the skin.
That's what life is!
Is Bascalhau popular with the Portuguese?
It's the most important
ingredient in Portuguese cuisine.
- Can't live without it.
- Right.
It's like tofu for Japanese.
Why like tofu?
It's key to our food culture.
How much?
- 15 euros and 70 cents.
- See? 15 euros and 70 cents.
Expensive, right?
I can't buy any more for a month.
Happy Easter! Take care.
Same to you. Take care!
Where'd he go?
Jose! We're going!
Bye.
Have a good Easter!
It seems that everyone is intent on celebrating Easter with some amazing feasts.
Hello! I'm Luis, a history enthusiast.
The first King of Portugal, Afonso I, was born here in Guimaraes,
and I am going to share some amazing historical tidbits with you in the format of a "fun quiz."
So, if you're ready, let's get started! "Why, Why Guimaraes!"
Afonso I was born in Guimaraes in 1109.
His army waged successful battles in many places, expanding the size of Portuguese territory.
The people of Guimaraes revere Afonso.
In fact, his image is used as the emblem of the local soccer team.
This is the Duke's palace where the descendants of Afonso used to live.
The palace is so large it even contains a church.
And there is something very unusual here.
Take a look! The family crest is tilted.
So here's the first quiz question.
Why is the crest tilted?
3, 2...
1!
And the answer is: the duke who lived here was born out of wedlock, so his crest had to be tilted.
Things were complicated back then!
Ready for the next question?
Look at that bronze box attached to the wall of the church.
When I walked through the city, I noticed several boxes like that.
Why are these boxes all over Guimaraes...?
Here's a hint: notice the mysterious numbers next to the place names listed.
3, 2, 1
Actually, the box is connected to the church bell and rings it if a fire breaks out.
The number of rings tells people the location of the fire.
Isn't that brilliant?
And now for our last quiz question!
This church in the center of town has cute little figures on its window grating.
What do you think they mean?
Yes, those little guys up there.
They are so cute, but what do they mean?
3, 2, 1
Here's the answer!
There once was a well here.
Women who came to draw water would complain about their husbands and gossip about their neighbors.
The church priest put the figures on the window to remind the women that they should not be gossiping and complaining.
They should be focusing on their prayers.
As they say, gossip is the root of trouble!
Guimaraes has many other notable sights! So, here we go.
One last time, now: 3, 2, "Why, why, Guimaraes?"
It's one o'clock in the afternoon.
Now, let's see, where was I this morning?
First, I looked for the Birthplace of Portugal inscription, then I had a great time at the marketplace,
and then I guess I returned to the entrance of the Historic Center...
So I must be walking in Toural Square right now.
What kind of shop is this?
They seem to be selling magazines and postcards.
And next door is...?
Hello!
Hello.
Can I help you?
What kind of store is this?
Metalwork and antiques.
We've been in business 103 years.
We use iron to make simple items.
These are samples of our work.
They're all door knockers.
They knock both above and below.
Door knockers, huh?
We have lots more inside.
I'd love to see them! Do you mind if I go in?
I guess it's okay.
So many different things!
Are those irons?
And these look like keys.
Ha, ha. And they even sell bells.
All of these I designed
and made myself.
You designed them? Amazing!
I draw things I imagine
or get ideas from customers.
I'm always thinking about
what to make next.
Here's one of Afonso I.
Look at that!
He's the symbol of Vitoria,
Guimaraes' football club.
Afonso I seems to be popular with the people here.
I have a customer waiting.
Please let her through.
The daughter of my mentor
in grade school.
What? Your mentor's daughter?
I have something I want to hang.
I want two of these.
- Attached to a wall?
- Yes.
These should work.
You can hang things with them.
I'll take them.
- I'm in a rush.
- Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Please come in. It's all right.
Another customer already?
What can I do for you?
Hello!
- How've you been?
- So so.
What do you need?
The key broke inside of
my bike's ignition.
A new key and take out the cylinder.
Can I get a replacement?
- That's a tough one.
- Can you help?
It sounds like he's asking for something difficult.
- It's not my field.
- He can do anything.
We've been friends since
grade school.
I bet you share a lot of memories.
Oh, sure!
- We often stole fruit...
- To have as a snack.
One time all our teacher's fruit was
stolen. We were the culprits!
We gave oranges to all
our classmates.
Our teacher started sniffing
and said he smelled oranges.
He asked if we had stolen them.
We all had oranges in our pockets
so our cover was blown.
- Boys will be boys.
- Yeah. Kids.
We sure had fun.
Apparently!
- Bye.
- See you.
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
My goodness! Another customer!
Thanks for your time.
- Ciao.
- Ciao.
Goodbye.
A metalsmith surrounded by friends and being helpful to them.
I suppose they've always depended on him.
That's so nice!
Where am I?
Oh, this is the park at the entrance to the city.
People sitting around talking, having a good time.
What a relaxing atmosphere.
Oh, who is that?
Huh?
Oh! Him.
Guimaraes can't do without him.
Guimaraes can't do without him?
He's the real thing!
Hello!
- Hello.
- Yep, he's the real thing!
What player are you talking about?
This one.
Picture of the football player.
Picture?
He's on the Vitoria team.
Ah, Vitoria is Guimaraes' soccer team!
We are "Vitoriano" because
thanks to Afonso I we are Portuguese.
But I like winning more
than being Portuguese.
I don't rely on any person.
I pray to Christ.
That's right!
See? Here's the team emblem.
Oh, that's Afonso I!
I and this kid's dad were
Vitoria team players.
He plays on the youth team, so
three generations.
That's impressive!
- That's his mission. He's still small.
- It's my mission.
A different team's fan is here.
Be careful what you say!
Benfica, Sporting, Porto...
They don't have much!
Hey, come here!
Why do you support another team?
No, I'm a Vitoria fan.
Vitoria and Sporting!
I don't care about Sporting fans.
- But other good teams do exist.
- This guy's not from Guimaraes!
You'll swear your allegiance
before God?
Yeah, I'm 100% Vitoria!
Vitoria until I die!
Always, until I die!
- But Braga isn't bad either...
- Don't give me that!
My goodness, I have no idea of what's going on here.
Goodbye!
Bye now!
Ha, ha! Enjoy being fans together!
I wonder if they heard me?
Wow, this alley is so quiet.
Even, the noise of the city seems to be muffled.
Hmm, I wonder if those soccer fans are still at it?
Hey. Is that a mannequin I see standing over there?
It seems to be a shop of some kind.
It's very unusual looking.
Ah, someone just came out.
What's he holding?
Excuse me.
Hello.
May I ask what you are carrying?
An altar decoration.
Portugal was a monarchy until 1910.
This is a wall decoration
from that time.
What are you going to do with it?
This is an antique shop.
I just purchased it.
An antique shop!
May I look inside?
Of course! Feel free.
Welcome!
Thank you. I will, then.
So many things! This is amazing!
Feel free to look arounds.
Is it easy to find antique items here because the town has such a long history?
Yes, we have many
historical items.
Lamps, ceramics from
monarchical times...
I also have portraits, books,
sculptures...
Isn't it a lot of work to collect all of this by yourself?
Well, actually... Dad?
Yes?
Your father?
We have a customer.
This is my dad, Jacinto.
We run the shop together.
I have many years of business
experience, so I taught my son
how to buy and sell.
Do you feel pressured because you are working with your father?
No. I feel his love.
When I started out, I didn't
have a clue
about what to do.
But I think I've grown thanks
to Dad's advice.
I see.
If you don't mind, please tell me: what's your favorite thing in this shop? Your favorite!
I like everything in this shop.
I feel a fond attachment to all of them.
Some things I really don't
want to sell.
But if I had to choose...
What would it be?
- That, and this.
- Oh?
These two angels.
They're so beautiful!
When were they made?
The 18th century.
The 18th century!
How did you acquire items that are so old?
From art collectors who pass away
or move to nursing homes...
Some run out of space when they
move in with their children
and can't display them anymore...
There are lots of reasons.
I bet.
And now, I'd like you to ask your son.
What's your favorite treasure?
There are so many...
But I'll show you my favorite.
That's it over there.
Oh, what could it be?
It's this machine.
It's quite heavy, but it's
an old calculator.
You type in the numbers
and then turn the handle.
That's a calculator?!
I typed in "20."
There are three "20s" showing.
So it will calculate "20 × 3."
I pull on the handle and turn it
three times.
The answer comes out here:
20 × 3 = 60.
This was easy,
but this machine was needed by people
who were bad at math.
You two have very different favorites!
Do you ever find yourselves clashing?
Not at all. We share
our ideas as we go.
That's how we find harmony
and move forward.
Thank you for showing me all of your treasures.
Please come back anytime.
Enjoy beautiful Guimaraes!
Thank you!
Thanks! Have a good afternoon.
I will!
Wishing you both, all the best!
Living in a historic town surrounded by lovely antiques. What a wonderful life!
Hello! I'm Maria Terra, a history buff who knows a lot about Guimaraes.
That's why I came dressed in a medieval costume!
Allow me to introduce you to some of our town's favorite sweets!
In third place, millefeuille cake!
Just look at all that cream. Isn't it divine?
Other places have millefeuille cake.
But here in Guimaraes, we use a lot of merengue with cream that's especially light and fluffy.
Mmm!
Such a delicious texture! A creamy heaven inside my mouth!
I'm sure you're all familiar with the next treat I want to show you.
Voila!
In second place, Pão de Ló sponge cake!
It is said that Pão de Ló was the inspiration for the castella cake, which is popular in Japan.
No Easter celebration is complete without Pão de Ló.
In busy times, this bakery uses as many as 3,600 eggs in a single day.
I can't wait to bite into this forerunner of Japanese castella!
Here goes!
Mmm! It's so mouthwateringly soft, I could eat the whole cake!
And now for the most famous desert of all!
Come on in!
In first place, torta de Guimaraes!
A perfect combination of gila squash paste encased in a crispy dough crust.
This is a secret recipe, and that makes it much more appealing! I'm going to try it!
Mmm! It's so good!
What do you think about our torte?
Fabulous! But how did you achieve such a delectable aroma?
No, no, no, no! It's a secret.
I want to eat delicious sweets with a wonderful man like Afonso I!
You should definitely come and visit Guimarães.
Until that day, Ciao!
It's five o'clock in the afternoon.
It was a very sunny day, but now the light has softened, making it easier to walk around the city.
With this kind of weather, I suppose it doesn't take long for laundry to dry.
Ah, a dog.
Sorry, pooch! Hope I didn't startle you.
More laundry here.
It looks so fresh, bathed in sunlight.
Hello! It's beautiful weather today.
You have a lovely yard!
Yes, lots of space.
I don't mean to be rude, but would you mind if I came in?
Not at all. Come on in!
Thank you so much!
This must be the entrance.
I'm so jealous! I wish I had a yard this big.
When it's hot in the summer,
we make a pool here.
All the kids come with their toys.
It's like a beach.
So the whole neighborhood enjoys it, huh?
Of course.
My son plays for Vitoria Youth,
so he practices here every day.
I'll call him over.
What?
Rodrigo!
Oh.
Come here a minute.
Come on around.
Hey Rodrigo!
Here he comes!
Hi there, Rodrigo!
Hello.
What a great uniform!
Is it the Guimaraes team?
The Vitoria team.
- That's your team?
- Until I die.
Ha, ha! Everyone says that, don't they?
So do you like playing soccer? Is it fun for you?
He's a top player.
One of the best.
- How many goals today?
- Four.
Wow! Four goals! That's amazing.
Yeah, four goals.
Wow! I guess Vitoria's success is assured with you around. Right, Rodrigo?
Bianca! Take the ball!
Even the dog loves soccer!
Hmm, what is it ...
There's something about this place.
Everyone seems so happy here.
- We just love our city, that's all.
- Yes.
- Every new generation...
- Pours its love in.
It's a cup that overflows.
Nicely put. Well, take care.
Goodbye.
Ciao. Thank you!
I'd love to return to Guimaraes when Rodrigo becomes a star player on the Vitoria team.
A love of place that's passed down through the generations...
It's ten at night.
I hear there'll be a parade winding through the streets in celebration of Easter.
Is that it up there?
Yes, this seems to be it.
They said it was a parade, but it seems more like a solemn procession.
With the casket of Christ at the head of the line, the procession mourns Jesus' death in preparation for his resurrection.
Ever since their nation's founding,
the Portuguese have offered their prayers to God and contemplated the important things in life.
And through it all, Guimaraes has been a part of that history.
I feel that the smiling faces and kind words of the people I encountered on the streets today
are proof that the people who live here are wonderfully generous and compassionate.