Castelo de Guimarães, Rua Dom Afonso Henriques

The Caselo de Guimarães was constructed in the late 10th century on the foundations of a Roman structure as a defense for the curate of a nearby monastery founded by Mumadona Dias, widow of Hermenigildo Gonçalves, count of Portucale. At the end of the eleventh century, the castle was expanded and became the residence of Count Henry and Countess Teresa de León [Conde Henrique de Borgonha and Condessa Teresa de Leão], father and mother of Afonso Henriques. It became the official royal residence from 1139 after Portugal became independent from the Kingdon of León. It is the purported birthplace of Afonso Henriques, possibly in 1111. The Battle of São Mamede on June 24, 1128, when the young Afonso Henriques defeated the armies of his mother, the widowed Countess-Queen Teresa, and her companion, Fernão Peres de Trava, is considered the originating event of the independence of Portugal from the overlordship of Galicia, itself a county of León. Following the battle, Afonso Henriques styled himself Prince of Portugal. The battle is commemorated annually on the Castle grounds.