The city of Braga was for centuries the center of ecclesiastical power of Portugal, fact which attests to its large number of churches which dominates the skyline.

One of the most representative monuments of Braga is the Arco da Porta Nova, and through it you access the historic area of the city.

Braga Cathedral is a key to visit, built in the XII century in Romanesque style, underwent several reforms during its history, most notably the Baroque era performed in place.  

It is worth visiting the Treasury of the Cathedral with a magnificent collection of pieces of sacred art.

The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Sameiro is located near the city of Braga, on top of the same mountain where the shrine is do Bom Jesus do Monte . A few miles up the road just two .

Its construction began on July 14, 1863 , and is the second center of Marian devotion in Portugal, after the Shrine of Fatima.

The Sameiro Sanctuary can be accessed by a monumental staircase, the top is flanked by two columns in which are the Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

We strongly recommend the climb to the dome of the church, it costs one euro, and views that are enjoyed in the region are spectacular, as the sanctuary is 566 meters.

 To visit this site we recommend you do first thing in the morning when there is hardly devout fans of photography is better than afternoon visit there are less people and the sun illuminates the facade, so these comments also apply in neighboring Bom Jesus do Monte.

The Praça da República , with its Renaissance sopotales is the central area of the urban structure of Braga .

To the east is extended along Central Avenue , a pedestrian mall where the Roman road XVIII started connecting the city with Astorga , and west by commercial rua do Souto , which leads to the Cathedral and culminates in the bow gives Porta Nova , the last gate of the medieval wall built.

After the square is built the old town, a large pedestrian area, full of medieval and Baroque works, the result of the patronage of the archbishops.

Among the medieval highlights the keep of the castle of Braga , the tower of the Porta Nova , the Sé or Cathedral , the winding rua Janes or the Archbishop's Palace, which combines different artistic styles and is oriented east garden of Santa Barbara , a garden featuring more than 25 000 flowers.

Among the monuments are the pompous baroque palace dos Biscainhos (in the Largo do Paço), a modest manor house converted into museum showing the lifestyle of high society in the city, the convent do Populo and dos Crivos House , the seventeenth century.

And five minutes away is the splendid do Raio palace , the baroque jewel, with a facade of granite tiles and ornate windows.