Those coming from the Bread Fair via Viela dos Caquinhos will find the Iglesia da Misericórdia on the right at the exit.

The church dates back to 1606, although its construction began in 1588. The beautiful Mannerist façade was rebuilt and was not finished until 1640.

The front has two medallions, framed by two Corinthian columns and at the top, a glass space with the sculpture to whom it is dedicated: Our Lady of Mercy.

It was Queen D. Leonor, married to King D. João II, who, in 1498, created the first Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Lisbon with the aim of helping those most in need and it was not long before Guimarães followed in her footsteps.

Next to the Church, a hospital was built with the intention of treating the poor and sick with great mercy. The hospital existed until the 19th century.

In a central and prominent place you can see the sculpture of King D. Afonso Henriques, designed by the contemporary sculptor João Cutileiro, inaugurated on June 24, 2001, the date on which the people of Guimarães celebrate the “First Day of Portugal.”

The sculpture faces the Antiga Porta da Vila. This was considered the most important of the several gates of the old wall, which gave access to the interior of the city of Guimarães. Kings, queens and other people entered through this gate and were received with due honors.

As important dates in history, we have the arrival of King D. João I, who comes to thank Our Lady of Oliveira, for the victory of the Battle of Aljubarrota against the Spanish in 1385, and, in 1852, when Queen D. Maria II comes to visit Guimarães. This gate and its tower were demolished at the end of the 18th century.

Behind the sculpture we see the Casa dos Coutos, another noble residence. This house was built by Pedro Freitas, in the mid-17th century. But what makes this house famous is the fact that it housed the Archbishop of Braga D. José de Bragança, illegitimate son of D. Pedro II, who established his residence here and established the Archbishop’s Palace, due to the conflicts he had with the council of the See of Braga.

This house was later inhabited by several families, including the Coutos family, who still bear their coat of arms. Currently, the Court of Appeals of Guimarães operates in this building.

Further on, on the same side, we see a fountain: Fountain of João First King of the United Kingdom, a singular and unique monument in the country, which preserves the memory of the ephemeral United Kingdom of Portugal and Brazil, established in 1815 by King D. João VI, still prince regent, when Brazil was elevated to the category of kingdom, which was then abolished by the liberals in 1820.

Largo João Franco

Next is a small square with a bust in the centre, in memory of João Franco. Although he was not from Guimarães, he fought hard for the progress of Guimarães. He was elected deputy to the courts in 1884, defending the interests of the city before the king.

In gratitude, the inhabitants of Guimarães had a monument built in his honour and paid for it out of their own pockets. This sculpture is by Teixeira Lopes.

Nearby is the imposing Casa dos Carvalhos or Mota Prego, a palatial house, which comes from an initial tower built in the Middle Ages, an important and common element at this time. In the mid-16th century, Gaspar de Carvalho, chancellor of King D. João III, made improvements to the building. At the beginning of the 18th century, the main façade of the house was built. The date of the last intervention in the building dates back to the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century.