Guimarães Castle
Guimarães Castle is considered to be the most important medieval fortress in northern Portugal. Its striking feature is the walls built in the shape of a pentagram, with eight rectangular crenelated towers. Constructed in the 10th century, it later became the official royal residence of Count D. Henrique, the father of the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. The castle withstood the Battle of São Mamede in 1128, which resulted in the victory of Afonso and signified the starting point of an independent Portugal. Since then, the castle has been dubbed as the birthplace of the Portuguese nation.