Guimarães

Guimarães is known as the birthplace of the nation of Portugal. It is where its first king, Afonso Henriques, was born. A pleasant city in the Minho district, it contains many sites important in the history of the country, including the castle below, which commands some great views of the surrounding landscape.

This is a statue of King Afonso Henriques

It's just down the street from the municipal building shown here, while downtown on a Sunday morning, the menfolk chat and smoke in the city's main square, which is where they gather,

while the women are at Mass.

And the younger crowd enjoy a nice bica at a sidewalk cafe.