Braga

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Braga has two sides: an ancient one and focused on a devout past and the other, more recent, focused on a young and dynamic future. It is known as the “youngest city in Portugal” thanks to the renewed and progress-oriented energy that the Minho University has brought. But to get to know the city it is necessary to go back many centuries. Often called the City of Archbishops or Portuguese Rome, it was founded around 16 BC under the name of Bracara Augusta, in honor of the Roman Emperor Augustus. The city has a vast cultural heritage that starts in the city center and extends beyond. Don't miss the three "Sacromontes" of the Braga mountain range: the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary — UNESCO World Heritage Site —, the Sameiro Sanctuary and the Falperra Sanctuary.

What to do in Braga

Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Sameiro

Braga

Revival Sanctuary located on top of Mount Sameiro, consisting of a staircase, an enclosure for field and a church mass. Around there is a wide space with a tree-lined Park, gardens, a cruise, some sources, a chapel, the Home of the prints, the Dean's House and a restaurant.

Sé de Braga

Braga

This medieval temple suffered several changes through the centuries. The classification includes the tombs of the Conde Dom Henrique, Dona Teresa, the Infante Dom Afonso and the archbishops Dom Gonçalo Pereira and Dom Diogo de Sousa

Theatro Circo

Braga

Inaugurated in 1915 and planned by the architect João Moura Coutinho, this was the most important construction in Braga in the early 20th century. It is the biggest cultural space in town with a wide variety of offers.

Mosteiro de São Martinho de Tibães

Braga

Ancient Benedictine monastery, whose present ensemble dates from the XVIII century. The monastery has four cloisters and the most important is decorated with azulejos and a granite fountain at the centre. The church has beautiful golden woodcarving works.

Termas Romanas do Alto da Cividade

Braga

These are also known as Roman Baths/Spa of alto da Cividade are located on the upper part in Cividade slope. They were discovered during the working excavations made during 1977. The building is placed in the 1st century and it is integrated on the urban renovation work of Flávia Braca Augusta.

Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte

Braga

This church was constructed under the orders of archbishop Dom Gaspar of Bragança in 1784 and it was ready in 1811. It is one of the first neoclassic buildings in Portugal and it was drawn by the architect Carlos Amarante.

Arcada da Lapa

Braga

Built in 1715, by the spot where the medieval wall used to be, it had the castle behind, whose donjorl was preserved. In front of the arcade was the Campo de Santa Ana, ordered by D. Diogo de Sousa in …

Torre de Menagem do Castelo de Braga

Braga

This is all that’s left of the Braga’s castle, which formed a medieval fortress. It has 12 meters long and about 30 meters height. The granite tower is crowned with battlements and angles. In one of the fronts a D. …

Fonte do Ídolo

Braga

The only roman reference monument of the Bracara Augusta and one of the most important rupestral sanctuaries of the referred period that still exist in the Iberia Peninsula.

Estádio Municipal de Braga

Braga

Architectural design very original, designed by Souto Moura, which is deployed on the slopes of Mount Castro. This stadium, with 30 thousand seats covered and only two stands, has aroused national and international interest for the beauty of the space, …

Museu dos Biscaínhos

Braga

The Biscainho Museu is located in a patrimonial ensemble with a house and historical gardens from the XVIII century. This is a manor-house from the baroque period, integrating decorative art collections of Portuguese furniture and ceramic from the XVII and …

Palácio do Raio

Braga

This is one of the most representative exemplars of the baroque taste, on the height of its exuberance. It was built in 1754 and the “rocaille” front as well as the staircase stand out.

Museu Regional de Arqueologia Dom Diogo de Sousa

Braga

Created in 1918, it was, for some time, lodged at the ancient Bishop’s Palace, where he left from in the 80’s. Its collection is mostly archaeological, from the Palaeolithic till the Middle Ages. It is oriented, mostly, to the preservation …

Casa dos Crivos

Braga

This is an example of the urban and civil architecture characteristic of Braga in the XVI century. The doors and windows are covered with blinds, which represent the monastic tradition of the city.

Jardim de Santa Bárbara

Braga

In the garden, a true "persian carpet" of natural flowers stands out. In the centre there is a charming fountain topped by a sculpture of Saint Bárbara. In the close by garden there are some vestiges of the ruins of …

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Travel Guide

Up to date tourist information about the city's top attractions

Pedagogical Farms to Liven up the Children's Holidays

With a quack quack here, an oink oink there, here a baa, there a baa, everywhere a cluck cluck, pedagogical farms will …

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Where to eat in Braga

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Where to sleep in Braga

Hotel do Parque
Hotel do Parque

4 star

Entirely rebuilt from the original structure of a 19th-century building stands in the Centre of beautiful and romantic gardens. Here it is easy to practice the…

Vila Galé Collection Braga
Vila Galé Collection Braga

4 star

O Vila Galé Collection Braga nasce da reabilitação do antigo hospital de São Marcos, um imóvel datado de 1508 e edificado no local onde existia uma ermida dedi…

Villa Garden Braga
Villa Garden Braga

4 star

Eis uma verdadeira surpresa, este palacete do século XIX magistralmente recuperado quase no centro da cidade dos arcebispos. O hotel Villa Garden Braga tem 26 …

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Near Braga

Amares

Amares

The landscape of Amares is distinctly rural, characterized by the crossing of the Homem and Cávado Rivers. Its tower houses, Roman bridges and main r…

Póvoa de Lanhoso

Póvoa de Lanhoso

Located in the heart of Minho and in a region with designation of origin of the vinho Verde, halfway between Braga and Peneda-Gerês National Park, th…

Cabeceiras de Basto

Cabeceiras de Basto

Located between the mountains of Cabreira and do Marão, Cabeceiras de Basto is one of Minho's oldest and most historic counties. Taking advantage of …

Fafe

Fafe

The municipality of Fafe, located in the lower Minho region, still retains signs of some rurality today. The landscape is diverse and varies between …