Must-see attractions in Braga

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    Braga

    Braga’s extraordinary cathedral, the oldest in Portugal, was begun when the archdiocese was restored in 1070 and completed in the following century. It’s…

  • Escadaria do Bom Jesus do Monte

    Braga

    Climbing dramatically to the hilltop pilgrimage site of Bom Jesus do Monte, 5km east of Braga, is this extraordinary staircase, with allegorical fountains…

  • Capelas e Coro Alto

    Braga

    A guided tour grants access to the cathedral’s three most striking chapels: the showpiece Capela dos Reis, home to the tombs of Henri of Burgundy and Dona…

  • Museu dos Biscainhos

    Braga

    An 18th-century aristocrat’s palace is home to Braga's enthusiastic municipal museum, with a nice collection of Roman relics and 17th- to 19th-century…

  • Fonte do Ídolo

    Braga

    Tucked away below street level and concealed by a modern lobby is this evocative ancient spring, one of Braga's unexpected treasures. An essential…

  • Museu Dom Diogo de Sousa

    Braga

    The archaeological museum houses a nicely displayed collection of fragments from Braga’s earliest days. The four rooms feature pieces from Palaeolithic…

  • Praça da República

    Braga

    The cafes and restaurants on this broad plaza are a pleasant place to start or finish your day. An especially mellow atmosphere descends in the evening,…

  • GNRation

    Braga

    This spiffy modern cultural centre lives inside an 18th-century building that once housed police headquarters. Enter through the sliding glass doors and…

  • Tesouro-Museu da Sé

    Braga

    The cathedral's modern treasury museum houses a goldmine of ecclesiastical booty, including the lovely Nossa Senhora do Leite of the Virgin suckling…

  • Termas Romanas do Alto da Cividade

    Braga

    These ruins of an extensive bathing complex – with an attached theatre – dating from the 2nd century AD, were probably abandoned in the 5th century. See…

  • Jardim de Santa Bárbara

    Braga

    This 17th-century square has narrow paths picking their way through a sea of flowers and topiary. On sunny days the adjacent pedestrianised Rua Justino…

  • Antigo Paço Episcopal

    Braga

    With its toothy crenellated walls forming a dramatic counterpoint to the greenery of the neighbouring Jardim de Santa Bárbara, this former Archbishop’s…

  • Museu da Imagem

    Braga

    In a beautifully minimalist medieval stone tower, outfitted tastefully with steel and wood stairs, this museum shows off impeccably lit, international…

  • Torre de Menagem

    Braga

    The square-shaped, crenellated tower behind the cafes on Praça da República is the walled-up Torre de Menagem, which is all that survives of a fortified…

  • Arco da Porta Nova

    Braga

    Framing the western entrance to Braga's historic centre, this baroque and neoclassical arch was designed by André Soares in the late 18th century.

  • Capela de NS da Conceição

    Braga

    Built in 1525, this pretty church in Braga's historic centre has an azulejo (tile)-clad facade flanked by a striking crenellated tower.

  • Igreja de Santa Cruz

    Braga

    Built in the 17th century, Braga's Holy Cross Church features a mix of baroque and Mannerist architectural styles.

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