Visit the City of Braga in Portugal

In Braga an old expression states that ancient things are "older than the Cathedral of Braga." And makes sense. The city's cathedral was consecrated in Portuguese 11 century.

A 366 km north of Lisbon and 58km from OPorto, Braga, created by the Romans 2,027 years ago and today with 176 thousand inhabitants, is one of crowns of the architectural jewels in Portugal.

Capital of the Portuguese Minho region, it has its history closely linked to Iberian Catholicism. With all the avant-garde and anachronisms possible.

There is an incredible concentration of churches, chapels and convents richly decorated in an area that in the beginning of the 19th century fit only 30 inhabitants. And there is the sweet charm of medieval or Renaissance of the narrow streets, with names of sweet evocations: street of Lightning, Alcaide street, street of Souls or Chaos.

Nowadays it is easy to get to Braga City trough modern highways (they were only 196 km were in the country just a few years ago, today there are more then 2000 km).

In the same way as Spain, sets of residential neighborhoods grow in the peripheral areas of the city, built with subsidized interest rates, reflecting a real estate boom only interrupted by the current international financial crisis.

Founded by the Romans under the name of "Bracara Augusta", the city was Christianize in the 6th century and slowly became, as capital of the former Galicia ( all the area north of Lisbon), the only Iberian archdiocese. Still nowadays, the Braga Archbishop has the right to appoint himself, without false modesty, as the "primate of Spain".

The temporal power was exercised for centuries by the Catholic hierarchy. What attracted orders for the installation of religious seminaries and convents. And yet attracted artisans now for the production of crucifixes, images of saints, breviary, hagiography and even church bells to carillons of European churches.

The Bishop's Palace, of the 15 century, is larger and more impressive that the City Council which concentrates the political authority.

The most important of the churches is precisely the Cathedral of Braga's, consecrated by bishop D.Pedro (1070-1093) over ruins of earlier invasions and religiousness - from the Suevi, Visigoth and Muslims.

The church, which led to the saying ( "that is older that the Braga Cathedral"), is now unrecognizable by changes added, especially in the Portuguese Renaissance, also called the Manueline because of Portuguese king d. Manuel, cog-named in is time as "The Venturi".

but there is more to Braga then this...

THE BRAGA CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

S.C.Braga official website -|> http://www.scbraga.pt

SC BRAGA at wikipedia -|> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sc_braga

THE BRAGA CITY HANDBALL CLUB:

ABC de Braga official website -|> http://www.abcdebraga.com/ (the most titled club in Portuguese handball)

ABC de Braga at wikipedia -|> http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acad%C3%A9mico_Basket_Clube

THE BRAGA CITY ROLLERSKATE HOCKEY CLUB:

Hockey clube de Braga official website -|> http://www.hcbraga.com/

here you got a link to Braga's city bars/clubs and pubs:http://www.braga.com.pt/dir_ent.asp?cat=3&sec=16 (58 hits on this page just click the link, in the right, over the bars/clubs and pubs names called "próxima" to the next segment of bars/clubs and pubs)

another Braga city night activity related site:http://www.bragabynight.com/

unfortunately those websites are in Portuguese... you got to have someone to translate them to you or use an online translator :-\

The most cool and well frequented places to goo byNight in Braga City:

§ The Bars/Pubs and Clubs near Universidade do Minho/Minho University (Gualtar parish)

§ The Bars/Pubs and Clubs in the "farol" Zone("Rua Candido de Oliveira" Street)

§ The Bars/Pubs and Clubs in "BA" e "Caqui" Zone(Street "Don Pedro IV")

§ The Bar/Pub "Nova Bar" ("Praça Conde Agrolongo" Square near "Insolito" disco/club) - NOVA BAR oficial webpage: http://www.novabar.pt.to/

§Disco/Club "Sardinha Biba"(near "Rua André Soares" Street) - SARDINHA BIBA oficial webpage: http://sardinhabiba.com/

§Disco/Club "Sabão Rosa"("Rua Quinta da Armada" Street) - SABÃO ROSA oficial webpage: http://www.sabaorosa.com/

§Disco/Club "Lagares"(Amares parish) - LAGARES oficial webpage: http://www.lagars.com/

§Disco/Club "Insolito"(near "Arcada" Square in the center of Braga City) - INSOLITO oficial webpage: http://insolitobar.netfirms.com/fr_insolito.html

§Disco/Club "Autocarro Bar"(near "Ponte do Bico" Street) AUTOCARRO BAR oficial webpage: http://www.autocarrobar.com.pt/

§Disco/Club "Club del Mar"("Variante do Fojo" Street) - CLUB DEL MAR oficial webpage: http://www.clubdelmar.pt/

§Cultural House/Bar/Pub “velha-a-branca” (“Senhora a Branca” Square): http://www.velha-a-branca.net/

§Cultural House/Bar/Pub CUSP (“Rua Nova de Santa Cruz” Street – near university UMinho campus): http://pt-pt.facebook.com/people/Cusp-Utopias-Sonhos-Projectos/100001032...

Some touristic videos by a Brazilian journalist site seeing(in Portuguese… subtitle it and you will have grate videos in your native language ;-]):

-|> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5Vo7zaMD0
-|> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMtBeQjeNQ4
-|> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFK3xX4IVmY
-|> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9jYHhHzyxY
-|> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0CfWOM2eFI
-|> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpfrc1Ghrps
 

besides the night life activities here are some more activities and places to visit in Braga city:

Archaeology || Place || Parish
Estação Arqueológica de Santa Marta das Cortiças / Monte da Falperra || Esporões || Esporões
Ruínas Romanas das Carvalheiras | Sé || Sé
Termas Romanas de Maximinos / Alto da Cividade / Colina dos Maximinos || Cividade || Cividade
citânia de Briteiros || monte de São Romão || Salvador de Briteiros (oficial website: http://citania.csarmento.uminho.pt/)

Barrage || Place || Parish
Barragem de Ruães || Ruães || Merelim (São Paio)

Airfield || Place || Parish
Aeródromo de Braga || Palmeira || Palmeira ( http://www.pelicano.com.pt/zp_braga.html )

Castles/Palaces || Place || Parish
Castelo de Braga ou Torre de Menagem || Braga || São João do Souto
Castelo de D. Chica ou Castelo da Palmeira ou Castelo Villa-Rego || Palmeira || Palmeira [ http://www.gearthhacks.com/dlfile34627/Dona-Chica-Castle.htm  algumas fotos: http://v3.cache1.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v2.cache5.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v3.cache5.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v1.cache7.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v21.nonxt7.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/... || http://v1.cache8.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... ]
Palácio do Raio || Braga || São José de São Lázaro ( http://www.gearthhacks.com/dlfile34630/Raio-Palace.htm )
Torre de Santiago e Muralha || Braga || Sé
Torre de Castro || Rio de Moinhos || Carrazedo
Torre e Honra de Vasconcelos || Ferreiros || Ferreiros
Castelo de Lanhoso || Lanhoso || Lanhoso

Lighthouse || Place || Parish
Farol do Aeródromo || Merelim || Merelim (São Pedro)

Churches/Monasteries || Place || Parish
Sé de Braga || Braga || Sé [ http://www.se-braga.pt/index2.php || http://www.se-braga.pt/tesouro_museu.php || some photos: http://v7.cache6.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v8.cache7.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10973818.jpg ]
Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte || Tenões || Tenões (http://www.bomjesus.eu/)
Santuário de N. Sra. Do Sameiro || Sameiro || Espinho (http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santu%C3%A1rio_do_Sameiro)
Capela da Conceição da Penha de França || Braga || São José de São Lázaro
Capela de N. Sra. a Branca || São Vitor || São Vitor
Capela de N. Sra. da Conceição / Capela dos Coimbras / Capela do Sr. Morto || Braga || São João do Souto
Capela de N. Sra. das Neves / Capela de S. Gonçalo || Arentim || Arentim
Capela de S. Brás do Carmo || Merelim (São Pedro) || Merelim (São Pedro)
Capela de S. Frutuoso de Montélios || Real || Real
Capela de S. Roque || Merelim (São Paio) || Merelim (São Paio)
Capela de S. Sebastião das Carvalheiras || Braga Cividade
Capela de Sta. Justa || Braga || São José de São Lázaro
Capela do antigo Convento do Salvador || Braga || São João do Souto
Capela do Espírito Santo Espírito Santo || Nogueira || BRAGA
Capela do Sr. das Angústias Carcavelos || Dume || BRAGA
Convento de N. Sra. do Carmo || Braga || São Vicente [some photos: http://v5.cache3.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10974871.jpg || http://v1.cache3.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v2.cache2.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10974865.jpg || http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10974853.jpg ]
Convento e Igreja do Pópulo Braga || São João do Souto
Igreja da Misericórdia de Braga || Braga || Sé
Igreja de S. Francisco || Real || Real
Igreja de S. Jerónimo || Igreja || Dume
Igreja de S. Vicente || Braga || São Vicente [some photos: http://v3.cache2.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v8.cache6.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v6.cache6.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v7.cache1.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://v8.cache4.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10995158.jpg ]
Igreja de Sta. Cruz || Braga || São João do Souto [photo: http://lh6.ggpht.com/idilioigreja/R7hdhbootKI/AAAAAAAAAJM/2qqjTdOhPJQ/s5... || FOR THOSE THAT FIND 3 ROOSTERS IN THE FACADE WIN A PRIZE - and belive it the rooster reliefs are realy on the facade )
Igreja Matriz de Espinho || Espinho || Espinho
Igreja Paroquial de S. Salvador || Figueiredo || Figueiredo
Igreja Paroquial de S. Vítor || São Vitor || São Vitor
Mosteiro e Igreja de S. Martinho de Tibães || Mire de Tibães || Mire de Tibães
Santuário Sra. dos Prazeres || Tenões || Tenões

Town/Region viewpoints || Place || Parish
Miradouro da Falperra || Esporões || Esporões
Miradouro de Guadalupe || Braga || Sé
Miradouro do Bom Jesus || Consolação || Tenões
Miradouro do Monte Picoto || Braga || São José de São Lázaro
Miradouro do Sameiro || Sameiro || Espinho

Museums || Place || Parish
Museu do Mosteiro de S. Martinho de Tibães || Mire da Tibães || Mire de Tibães ( http://www.geira.pt/MSMTibaes/ )
Casa Museu Nogueira da Silva || Braga || São José de São Lázaro ( http://www.mns.uminho.pt/ )
Museu da Imagem Braga || Sé || BRAGA ( http://museudaimagem.blogspot.com/ )
Museu de Arte Sacra da Sé Catedral de Braga || Sé || Sé ( http://www.geira.pt/MSeBraga/ )
Museu de Cordofones || Tebosa || Tebosa ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringed_Instruments_Museum )
Museu dos Biscaínhos || Sé || Sé ( http://www.visitportugal.com/NR/exeres/6C9502A5-9D25-4AD4-B4BD-88DBC4CBE... )
Museu Medina || Braga || Cividade ( http://www.bracara-digital.com/turismo/patrimonio/museu-pio-xii/ )
Museu Regional de Arqueologia D. Diogo de Sousa || Cividade || Cividade ( http://mdds.imc-ip.pt/ )

Palaces || Place || Parish
Palácio do Raio ||São José de São Lázaro || São João do Souto
Palácio dos Biscainhos || Sé || Sé

River Beaches || Place || Parish
Praia Fluvial de Crespos ||Braga || Crespos [some photos: http://www.correiodominho.com/images/9596_230x180.jpeg || http://ipt.olhares.com/data/big/221/2217587.jpg || http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VwwJvUdP-hA/Sewwm_TqvUI/AAAAAAAABj4/pGgzTqN5M3... || http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VwwJvUdP-hA/SewwmhbyW1I/AAAAAAAABjw/SqUbtl8_Eh... || http://ipt.olhares.com/data/big/273/2739407.jpg, http://ipt.olhares.com/data/big/274/2742874.jpg ]
Praia Fluvial de Navarra || Navarra || Navarra [some photos: http://v8.cache8.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/o... || http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/9315670.jpg ]
Praia Fluvial de S. Paio || Merelim || Merelim (São Paio)
Praia Fluvial do Porto Carreiro || Soutelo || Palmeira
Praia Fluvial da Ponte Nova || Vila Verde || Bico
Praia Fluvial da Torre || Torre || Torre
Praia Fluvial de Fiscal || Amares || Fiscal
Praia Fluvial do Areal || Barral || Caldelas
Praia Fluvial do Autocarro Bar || Soutelo || Lago [some photos: http://img9.imageshack.us/i/17082009022.jpg/ || http://img10.imageshack.us/i/17082009008q.jpg/ || http://img39.imageshack.us/i/17082009007g.jpg/ || http://img33.imageshack.us/i/17082009013.jpg/ || http://ipt.olhares.com/data/big/273/2739399.jpg || http://farm1.static.flickr.com/10/12613168_f14c3fd377_z.jpg?zz=1]
Praia Fluvial Ponte do Bico || Soutelo || Lago
Praia Fluvial Vicente do Bico || Fiscal || Fiscal

Bowling House: http://www.bowlinghouse.pt/index.php?pg=36

golf cours: http://www.clubegolfebraga.com/

Big shopping malls: http://www.bragaparque.pt/ || http://www.bragashopping.pt/bs/

Tennis fields: http://www.clubetenisbraga.pt/campos-precario || http://codigopostal.ciberforma.pt/dir/empresa2.asp?emp=107381

Movie theaters/Cinemas: http://www.cinemascinemax.com/cinemax/?pag=8 || http://www.bragaparque.pt/acontece/cinema/ || http://www.lifecooler.com/Portugal/noite/CinemaEstudioGoldCenter

Theaters & Theaters Companies: http://www.lifecooler.com/portugal/tardeenoite/GrupodeTeatrodeNogueiraBraga || http://www.lifecooler.com/portugal/tardeenoite/TeatrodoEspacoAlternativoPT || http://www.theatrocirco.com/ || http://tum.no.sapo.pt/TUM.htm

Plubic access swimming pools: http://www.swim.com/swimming-pools/pt/braga/braga/piscina-municipal-da-rodovia-41046/ || http://www.lifecooler.com/Portugal/actividades/PiscinadeMaximinos

And here is some of the Braga City monuments and places to visit photos indexes:

http://www.virtourist.com/europe/braga/phototxt.htm || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=603121 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=596758 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=882908 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=506002 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=532520 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=445999 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=261012 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=472710 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=605434 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=537005 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=486765 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=782846 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=604907 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=504501 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=501179 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=354469 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=270802 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=471725 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=829106 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=472939 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=312434 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=643720 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=647463 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=860264 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=856776 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=854986 || http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=836252 || http://cidades.home.sapo.pt/minho/braga/ || http://www.pbase.com/jorge1822/braga

Braga City on google maps -|> http://maps.google.pt/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=pt-PT&geocode=&q=braga&sll=...

and some more maps of the Braga's region:http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/portugal/braga/map/ || http://www.braga.com.pt/MapaUnidade9.asp

Braga hostel and hotel links were your can stay during the days will pass in Braga City(links in English and Portuguese):

- http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/portugal/braga/
- http://www.booking.com/city/pt/braga.pt.html?aid=304085;label=braga-c9CJ...
- http://portugal.hotels.com/hoteis-Portugal/hoteis-braga/
- http://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php/ChosenCity.Braga/ChosenCountry.P...
- http://en.infohostal.com/guide/braga/braga/59591/accommodation/hotels.html
- http://www.europeanexplorer.com/portugal/hostels/braga.htm
- http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel047009.en.htm
- http://www.hostelsclub.com/city-dk-1494-Braga.html

Braga restaurants links were your can stay during the days will pass in Braga City(links in English and Portuguese):

- http://www.viverportugal.com/index.php?pid=11&did=1&cid=40
- http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g189171-c18-Braga_Northern_Portug...
- http://www.guiadosrestaurantes.pt/a000010.aspx?d=17
- http://viajar.clix.pt/comer.php?c=15&lg=fr

Some more great places to eat in Braga City:

ROASTED LAMB – Restaurant D. JULIA

RICE WITH LAMPERN FISH ( http://www.professorjarbasbio.com.br/lampreia.jpg ) – Restaurant MINI SPORT

HAKE FISH FILLETS (ROASTED IN COAL) – Restaurant D. ELVIRA

ROASTED LAMB – Restaurant CAÇADOR de PRADO do PAULO

FRIED HAKE FISH FILLETS – Restaurant MAIA DO SAMEIRO

COD FISH PREPAREAD “Á GOMES SÁ” – Restaurant MAIA DO SAMEIRO

SHAD FISH PREPARED “BRAGA CITY STYLE” – Restaurant MINI SPORT

OPPEN BOUFFET – Restaurant BOI BOMBAR

GRILLED BASS FISH – Restaurant EXPOSITOR

TRADITIONAL BRAGA CITY MEAT’s DISH “PAPAS DE SARRABULHO” – Restaurant SOBRAL

ROASTED LAMB – Restaurant PAULINHO DOS CAVALINHOS

FRESH GRILLED FISH (VARIOUS TIPES) – Restaurant EXPOSITOR

“FRANCESINHA” SANDWISH (sandwish in the 10 Ten sandwish’s in the world guide) – Restaurant ZEROCINCOTRÊS

TRADITIONAL BRAGA CITY MEAT DISH “COZIDO Á PORTUGUESA” – Restaurant ARCOENSE

HAKE FISH FILLETS WITH CREAM – Restaurant MAIA SAMEIRO

COD FISH WITH CREAM – Restaurant MAIA SAMEIRO

TENDERLOIN WITH MUSHROOMS – Restaurant MAIA SAMEIRO

ROSTED MEAT – Restaurant ALEXANDRE

TRADITIONAL BRAGA CITY MEAT’s DISH “PAPAS DE SARRABULHO” – Restaurant ALEXANDRE

COW HAND WITH WHITE BEANS – Restaurant BADALHOCO
 

PostScript: BRING A GPS NAVIGATOR SYSTEM WITH IBERIA MAPS!!! even on foot is a very easy and nice way to move were you want to go in Braga City ;-)

PostScript2: sorry for the lots of links and for many places without photos, they simply are not yet available on the internet... :-(