"The Castle of Guimarães" Guimarães Things to Do Tip by GuthrieColin

On 7 July 2007 many elections of the new 7 wonders were conducted. One was for the Seven Wonders of Portugal. The Guimarães Castle was voted number one in that election and for good reason.

The Castle has a great amount of historical significance: construction began in 968 CE to protect it from Moorish attacks. It was the site of the baptism of Portugal's first King Afonso Henriques and served as the royal residence for nearly 100 years.

The middle (tallest) tower is 28m (92ft) high and for a small donation you may ascend three steep sets of stairs to the roof for a great view of the complex and surrounding city. This castle is exactly what one would imagine when thinking of a medieval castle. Huge stones and heavy timber for the construction and without the modern day safety features protecting people from falling from the walls.

Website: http://www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com/guimaraes-castle.html