History Of Guimarães Sister City Accords

Londrina (Brazil)
1985
 - Initial contact between Guimarães and Londrina was established.
1987
- On February 9th, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Guimarães unanimously approved its becoming a Sister City with Londrina.
- In April, the City of Guimarães signed the protocol necessary to become Sister City. Accord agreed upon in the interest of the Federation of Portuguese and Luso-Brazilian Associations based in the city of Londrina.

Mé-Zóchi (São Tomé e Príncipe)
1988
- The Portuguese ambassador in S. Tomé and Príncipe suggested the signing of a Sister City accord with the city of Mé-Zóchi as a means of assisting underdeveloped countries in the PALOPs (African Countries of Portuguese Official Language – Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa).
1989
- On April 10th, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Guimarães by majority vote approved its becoming a Sister City with Mé-Zóchi.
- On June 26th, the Sister City Commission was created, made up of the Directors of the following: the Commercial and Industrial Association of Guimarães, the Rotary Club, the Administrative Council of the Francisco de Holanda Secondary School, and two merchant’s associations, the Associação de Viajantes e Pracistas and the Associação de Convívio.
- On June 30th, in the City of Mé-Zóchi, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Xavier representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Luís Filipe Gonçalves Trigueiros representing Mé-Zóchi.

Brive-la-Gaillarde (France)
1992
- On a trip to Guimarães in May, the Vice Mayor of the City Hall of Brive-la-Gaillarde officially proposed the establishment of a Sister City accord.
- On June 3rd, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Guimarães unanimously approved its becoming a Sister City with Brive-la-Gaillarde.
1993
- On June 30th, in the City of Guimarães, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Jean Charbonnel representing Brive-la-Gaillarde.
Website: www.brive.fr

Igualada (Spain)
1994
- On February 21st, a Sister City relationship between Igualada and Guimarães was proposed formally by the City Hall of Igualada.
- On December 20th, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Igualada approved its becoming a Sister City with Guimarães.
1995
- On January 12th, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Guimarães approved its becoming a Sister City with Igualada.
- On April 22nd, in the City of Igualada, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Jordi Aymami I Roca representing Igualada. Also signed at that time were Accords of Mutual Cooperation between various institutions of the two cities.
- On June 24th, in the City of Guimarães, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Josep Maria Suzanna representing Igualada.
Website: www.aj-igualada.net

Tacoronte (Spain)
1996
- Contacted by officials in Tacoronte, The City Hall of Guimarães became aware of the historical link between the two cities: Tacoronte was founded, in fact, by the Machado family, originally from Guimarães.
- On September 30th, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Tacoronte approved its becoming a Sister City with Guimarães.
1997
- On June 24th, in the City of Guimarães, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the respective mayors of the two cities: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Hermógenez Pérez Acosta representing Tacoronte.
- On October 26th, in the City of Tacoronte, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the respective mayors of the two cities: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Hermógenez Pérez Acosta representing Tacoronte.
Website: www.tacoronte.es

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
1998
- On May 27th in Rio de Janeiro, the Sister City accord with Guimarães was approved.
- On July 2nd, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Guimarães unanimously approved its becoming a Sister City with Rio de Janeiro.
1999
- The Sister City relationship was established on the occasion of a meeting of UCCLA – União das Cidades Capitais Luso-Afro-Américo-Asiaticas (the Union of Luso Capital Cities in Africa, the Americas and Asia)
- On May 27th, in the City of Maputo (Mozambique), during the General Assembly of UCCLA, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the respective mayors of the two cities: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Luís Paulo Fernandes Conde representing Rio de Janeiro.
Website: www.rio.rj.gov.br

Kaiserslautern (Germany)
2000
- The large Portuguese community residing in Kaiserslautern, predominantly from the Minho province, initiated the idea of a sister city relationship between Kaiserslautern and Guimarães.
- On May 8th in Kaiserslautern, the Sister City accord with Guimarães was approved.
- On June 12th, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Guimarães by majority vote approved its becoming a Sister City with Kaiserslautern.
- On June 24th, in the City of Guimarães, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Bernhard J. Deubig representing Kaiserslautern.
- On September 15th, in the City of Kaiserslautern, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Bernhard J. Deubig representing Kaiserslautern.
Website: www.kaiserslautern.de

Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)
2000
- Interest in a sister city relationship was sparked when the President of the Republic of Uruguay visited the city of Guimarães. For its part, the City of Colonia del Sacramento expressed reciprocal interest and contacted the Portuguese Embassy in Montevideo with the proposal of an accord. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese explorer Manuel Lobo, and the city has preserved many buildings that bear witness to the presence of the Portuguese. Colonia del Sacramento was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
- On October 12th, in an official meeting of the City Hall, Guimarães unanimously approved its becoming a Sister City with Colonia del Sacramento.
- On December 6th, in the City of Colonia del Sacramento, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Carlos Moreira Reisch representing Colonia del Sacramento.
2001
- On June 24th, in the City of Guimarães, the Sister City Protocol was signed by the two city’s mayors: the Honourable António Magalhães representing Guimarães, and the Honourable Carlos Moreira Reisch representing Colonia del Sacramento.
Website: www.colonia.gub.uy