Description of the attraction
Guimaraes, an ancient city in northern Portugal, is considered the cradle of the country. The city was founded at the beginning of the 11th century, and in the same city, after the victory over the Moors in 1139, King Afonso Henriques proclaimed himself king of an independent state and became known as Afonso I. In 2001, the historical center of the city was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list. The city has many beautiful monuments of Portuguese architecture, from the 15th century to the 19th.
The Church of the Passion of the Lord is perhaps considered one of the most striking architectural monuments in the city. The temple, built in the 18th century, is located outside the Old Town, in the large square of Largo de San Gualter, and in front of the temple is a magnificent garden. The temple is also known as the Church of St. Gualter and was built on the site of an old small chapel of the 15th century. The construction of the temple was carried out by the architect Andre Soares, one of the most prominent architects of the time. The architectural style of the church is Baroque. Later, in the 19th century, two pointed towers were added on the sides of the building. A beautiful staircase with a balustrade leads to the main entrance. Inside, the church impresses with its decoration; the main altar of the 18th century church attracts attention.
It is worth noting that on the first weekend of August, residents of the city celebrate Saint Gualter's Day - "feshtash gualterianash". The holiday has existed for about a hundred years and is a continuation of the tradition of the ancient fair of Saint Gualter. On the day of Saint Gualter, folk music sounds in the city, fireworks are launched in the evening. In addition, on this day you can see historical processions, bullfighting, a battle of flowers, as well as a procession in honor of the saint himself.
