Braga, or Bracara Augusta, as the Romans baptized it, was founded by the Celts in 300 AC and was a roman administrative centre in 27 AC. It was destroyed by the Moors and was afterwards rebuilt by the Portuguese people during the centuries, holding nowadays a Baroque splendour not easy to find.

City of the Minho Province and District capital, the region is a plain of fertile soil, protected from winds by the hills, crossed by rivers Homem and Cávado , fixing itself on the west bottom of Serra da Falperra .

The city is also known as the ?Portuguese Rome? or the ?City of the Archbishops?, for its concentration of religious architecture and for having two archbishops. Braga is probably the biggest religious centre of the country, known for its Baroque churches, for the splendorous houses from the XVIII century and for its elaborated gardens and parks. But Braga has succeeded in combining its religious importance with today's commercial and industrial prosperity. In socio-economical terms, the development of Braga is intimately connected to the creation of Universidade do Minho , which has itself imposed a new dynamic in terms of hotelier offers. It is a big commercial and industrial centre in expansion.

Braga is one of the youngest cities in Europe (it was considered the youngest city in Europe in 1989), turning it into a dynamic and energetic city. In the last 30 years the population of the District has grown more than 25%. With its 150.000 inhabitants it is each time plus a pleasant city, heading the future. The District of Braga presents development and quality of life parameters above the national average, only surpassed by the regions of big Porto and big Lisbon. We can easily conclude this through the statistics, and added to its strategic geographical position, it turns this District into one of the most attractive regions for investment.

Braga also offers culture and leisure opportunities unique in the country, with its night life, cinemas, theatre, exhibitions and art galleries.

Sightseeing

•  Sé (the Cathedral), the oldest in Portugal which was built by D. Henrique and D. Teresa
•  Largo do Paço, former Archbishops Palace, actually, the Rectorate of Universidade do Minho
•  Sameiro and Bom Jesus Sanctuaries
•  Tibães Monastery
•  Raio Palace
•  ?Torre de Menagem? (the Keep)
•  ?Casa dos Crivos? (Mediaeval House)

Monthly, the Municipal Hall edits a Cultural Bulletin with the main cultural events in town. This bulletin can be acquired in the Tourism Office, and it is for free.

Handicrafts

Articles in wicker and straw - baskets, hats, decorative furniture, laupstands, etc.

Weaving - quilts and damasked bedspreads, rag floor-mats and feather mats and rugs.

Pottery - mugs, jars, bowls, casseroles, pitchers and the famous figures of musicians, cocks, Last Supper groups, miniatures, etc.

Carpentry and cabinet making - flax-scutches and flax-hackles, distaffs and spindles.

Festivals and Fairs

Borough Fair

Every Tuesday. This fair is packed with people, some coming from nearby towns to buy or sell agricultural products and hand-made goods.

Holy Week

Easter. Throughout the entire week there are several processions and all the altars, each evoking a scene from the passion of Christ, are beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. This week attracts many tourists from all over Portugal and Spain, mainly.

Festivities of St. John

23 rd /24 th June. From all over the country arrive excursions to participate in the big festivities in which people carry leek and small plastic hammers, and ?hit? all the others they find in the streets with them. Music and more music, a fairyland of artistic illuminations, dancing and songs, seize the spirit of the good folk of Minho.