Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
ON THE ART TRACK IN GUIMARÃES
Rui Torrinha is a cultural programmer for A Oficina, an entity that runs Centro Cultural Vila Flor (
Click here
). He
is also a cultural instigator, mainly in the urban music field, where he helps break new artists.
What are your favourite Guimarães art collectives and hotspots that visitors should keep on their radar?
The list of associations in Guimarães is endless but I particularly love Convívio (
Click here
), a pivotal cultural
hub founded in 1961 that has since launched some of the most important events in the city - and it's still reinvent-
ing itself within the city's new context. Laboratório das Artes (on the upper floors of the Café Milenário building
on Largo do Toural) is a great example of resilience through art. This visual-arts collective has been really sup-
portive of established artists but also newcomers, allowing the city to connect with new kinds of expression.
Another important association is
Cineclube
(2nd floor, Largo da Misericórdia 19;
www.cineclubeguimaraes.org
)
, who have a space in a gorgeous building near Convívio, with a rooftop where they sometimes project films. Fin-
ally, there's Center for Art & Architecture Affairs (
Click here
)
, an old factory reconverted in a multidisciplinary
venue that offers a particular look at contemporary art, not only as a presentation space but also as an artistic res-
idency for creators who need a place to work in Guimarães.
To which cafe-bars/clubs in Guimarães would you send people who are interested in the art scene?
My regular summer cafe for meeting the art crowd is Medieval at Praça da Oliveira. If you're looking for under-
ground vibes, Projecto is the place to hit, where the crowd's modern punk attitude celebrates contemporary cul-
ture in a club context. Make sure to pay a visit to São Mamede CAE (
Click here
)
, an old cinema and now a cul-
tural centre that offers all kinds of shows and has a bar that attracts an artsy crowd.
Which festivals and events in Guimarães do you love most?
I love Guimarães Jazz (
Click here
)
and GUIdance, the international contemporary dance fest in early February.
Manta, the annual open-air event in CCVF's garden, has shows by local and international bands.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Guimarães
POP 8200 / ELEV 400M
B eautifully preserved Guimarães has an illustrious past. It's the proud birthplace of
Afonso Henriques, the first independent king of Portugal and, thus, the Portuguese King-
dome. He was born here in 1110 and later used the city to launch the main thrust of the
Reconquista against the Moors.
Its medieval centre is a warren of labyrinthine lanes and picturesque plazas framed by
14th-century edifices, while on an adjacent hill stands a 1000-year-old castle and, next to
it, the massive palace built by the first duke of Bragança in the 15th century. Guimarães'
glory was officially recognised in 2001, when Unesco declared its old centre a World Her-
itage site. More recently, in 2012, the city was the European Capital of Culture, which has
led to several new openings on the cultural front and given the city a more creative edge.
