Guimarães in 4 hours

Start at the old tanneries area, by the stream — a side of the city many visitors never see.

The old heart of Guimarães' leather tanning industry, active from the Middle Ages until 2005, listed as a Property of Public Interest in 1977 — the first legislative initiative of its kind in Portugal for industrial archaeology. It's part of the Historic Centre of Guimarães and Zona de Couros, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving tanning pits, wooden drying sheds and restored old factories, now home to the Youth Hostel (Pousada da Juventude), the Centro de Ciência Viva "Curtir Ciência" and branches of the Universidade do Minho.

Go in to see the interior; it's just a few minutes from Couros.

Church that was part of the former Convent of São Francisco, granted by D. João I in 1400. Its interior, remodelled in the 18th century, features rich gilded woodwork and azulejo tiles that turned the plain Franciscan church into a Baroque one. One of the chapels holds the remains of S. Gualter, one of the first Franciscan missionaries in the region.

Head up to Toural for the must-have photo, beneath the inscription "Aqui nasceu Portugal" ("Portugal was born here").

Remains of Guimarães' old medieval town walls, visible mainly near Largo Navarros de Andrade, in the historic centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now in Largo do Toural, the city's main square.

Church next to Largo do Toural, one of the main squares in Guimarães' historic centre. It's one of the city's listed religious buildings.

Enter the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

16th-century church on Rua da Rainha Dona Maria II, next to Largo da Misericórdia. Its single-nave interior features a stucco-lined barrel vault, an 18th-century main altarpiece, a pulpit from 1781 and an Iberian organ case.

You've reached Largo da Oliveira, the medieval heart of Guimarães, with Praça de Santiago right next to it.

Commemorative monument standing next to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, in Largo da Oliveira, in memory of the victory at the Battle of Salado (1340), in which King D. Afonso IV took part with the support of troops from Guimarães. Listed as a Property of Public Interest, it's part of the classified area of the Historic Centre of Guimarães.

Right opposite the stone monument. Take a look at the tower and the Gothic doorway.

Former collegiate church on Largo da Oliveira, one of the most iconic spots in Guimarães' historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church is associated with the tradition of the Battle of Salado (1340), from which it received a silver cross as a token of thanks. The ensemble also includes the Padrão do Salado, a monument standing next to its façade.

Next to the Igreja da Oliveira. Don't miss the cloister.

Museum housed in part of the former Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, with a valuable collection of sacred art, silverwork, sculpture and carved woodwork, including pieces from the former Convent of Santa Clara. The combined ticket also gets you into the Paço dos Duques and Guimarães Castle.

Walk up Rua de Santa Maria, one of the oldest streets in the city, to the former convent.

Former Convento de Santa Clara, founded in the 16th century by the canon Baltasar de Andrade. It features a Baroque façade decorated with a sculpture of Saint Clare in the centre and a classical two-storey cloister. Since 1968 this building has been the seat of the Câmara Municipal de Guimarães.

This time go inside: the rooms, the tapestries and the chimneys seen from within are worth the visit.

Manor palace built between 1420 and 1433 for D. Afonso, 1st Duke of Bragança. Listed as a National Monument since 1910, it's now one of the most visited museums in Portugal, showcasing collections of tapestries, furniture, paintings, sculpture and weapons from the 17th and 18th centuries. It also includes a wing used as an official residence of the Presidency of the Republic.

Small Romanesque church between the Paço and the Castle, linked by tradition to the baptism of D. Afonso Henriques.

Small Romanesque church from the early 13th century, right next to Guimarães Castle. It's traditionally associated with the baptism of D. Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king, although this is disputed since the church dates from after his birth. Together with the Castle and the Paço dos Duques, it's part of the group of national monuments on Monte Latito.

Finish at the symbol of Portugal's founding. From the castle hill you get a great view over the city.

Medieval castle built in the 10th century by order of Countess Mumadona Dias to defend the monastery from Norman and Muslim attacks. It's considered the main symbol of Portugal's founding, known as the place "where the nation was born". It has a polygonal layout with seven turrets and a central keep about 27 metres tall.