City of Braga, Northern Portugal - Tourism Information

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Municipality I City of Braga I Accommodation I

Praça Republica

The city is known as the "Portuguese Rome" for its concentration of religious architecture In Portugal, Braga's population is considered the most conservative, and by some the most pious, by others the most fanatic. The city is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal.
City Walls - Built by order of King Dinis, they were finished during the reign of King Fernando, in 1373. Only the Keep, the Gate, the Tower of Saint James, the Tower of St. Sebastian & the Tower of the New Gate, have survived.

Places Of Interest

Paço Arquiepiscopal Bracarense
Extraordinary assembly, made of 3 Different parcels each unique in design due to constructions made centuries apart. The Northwing ( faces "St Barbara's" Garden ) in Gothic Style , goes back to the 16th Century. The Westwing ( faces the Municipal square) normally named "late Baroque style" ( was built on in the 18th Century). The Southwing is what defines the beautifull Town square, there it integrates several constructions commanded to be edified by several Archbishops in the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries.

Torre de Menagem
The only construction that remains of the old Castle of Braga.
House of Coimbras
Situated in Santa Cruz Square, this House of Coimbras has its origins in an previous construction that in 1471 was the residence of "Don. Martins Anes", in 1477 the home for the Bishop "Titopolis D. Gil" and in 1502 Don "Luis Goncalves Farto " In 1505 the house was acquired by Dr. "Joao de Coimbra" and that was when the place underwent several reconstructions , first one by demand of "Biscainhos" Artists that at the time were in Braga due to the edification the Main Chapel called "Se Catedral", today, all that's left from the 15th century are some "Manuelin style" windows that survived a demolition that took place in 1906

Sé Cathedral of Braga
Built in the 12th century by Count Henry of Burgundy and Dona Teresa. Following his demise, she was chased out of town because of an illicit love affair, but in death Henry and Teresa were reunited in their tombs in the Chapel of Kings. You can visit the Treasury of the Cathedral and the Museum of Sacred Art, an upstairs repository of Braga's most precious works of art. On display are elaborately carved choir stalls from the 18th century, embroidered vestments from the 16th through the 18th century, a 14th-century statue of the virgin and a Gothic chalice from the same period, plus the custódia of Dom Gaspar de

Bragança. In the cloister is a pietà,a reflection of human grief. Igreja da Misericórdia (Misericord Church) - Founded in 1562, the Igreja da Misericórdia was almost totally rebuilt in the 18th century. The façade is in the Italian Renaissance style. Standing against the Cathedral, it is easy to miss.

Raio Palace

Raio Palace
Built in 1754, the Palácio do Raio is one of most notable buildings of civil architecture in the city, in Joanine Baroque style, and owes its name to Miguel José Raio, Viscount of São Lázaro, who bought it in 1834.
Noteworthy is the forged iron work in the balconies of the noble floor; the one over the portal is decorated with two sculptures.
Fonte do Ídola
The only known Roman monument of "August Bracara" in Portugal.

Capela Salvador Saviour

Capela Salvador Saviour (Chapel)
Part of Convento do Salvador (Saviour Convent), founded in 1602 and mainly destroyed after the 19th century The Capela do Salvador has a single nave, covered by a wooden ceiling, with 40 painted boxes depicting the efigies of saints. The interior walls still display their original geometric and polichromous tiles.
Arco Porta Nova
Church of St. Victor
Church of St. Vicente

Biscainhos Museum
This museum is in Biscainhos Palace, a building from the 17th and 18th centuries that for about 300 years has served as the house of a noble family. The original gardens are still here. The museum's interior has painted and ornamented ceilings and walls with panels of figurative and neoclassic tiles. Its exhibition rooms contain collections of Portuguese furniture and pottery; glassware; silverware; textiles; and Portuguese, Oriental,and Dutch Delft porcelain.
Old Archbishops Palace
The medieval wing, around a rectangular garden patio, may date from the 14th century. The other two main wings are from the 16th and the 18th centuries (Baroque). Noteworthy is the Chafariz dos Castelos (castles fountain), dated from 1723. Presently, the building lodges the Rectorate of the University of Braga, the Public Library and the District Archive.

Populo Church and Convent

Santa Maria Madalena Church

Santuario do Bom Jesus do Monte

Not far from the city center there are three important sanctuaries: The "Bom Jesus", the "Sameiro" and the "Santa Marta da Falperra".
Santuario do Bom Jesus do Monte
Born Jesus do Monte is a hilltop pilgrimage site; it's reached on foot, via a funicular ride, or by a car ride along a tree-lined roadway. A baroque granite double staircase dating from the 18th century may look exhausting, but if it's any consolation, pilgrims often climb it on their knees.
Less elaborate than the stairway of Remédios at Lamego, the stairs at Born Jesus (Good Jesus) are nevertheless equally impressive.
On the numerous landings are gardens, grottoes, small chapels, sculptures, and allegorical stone figures set in Mountains.
Railway Staion
Hospital
Exhibition Park


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