Things To Do in Braga
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
Braga Attractions
- Religious Site
Santuário Bom Jesús do Monte
Bom Jesús do Monte is a hilltop pilgrimage site; it's reached on foot, on a funicular (the ride costs 1€), or by car along a tree-lined roadway. The baroque granite double staircase dating from the 18th century might look daunting, but if it's any consolation, pilgrims often climb it… - Religious Site
Sé de Braga
Inside the town, interest focuses on the Sé (cathedral), which was built in the 12th century by Henri de Bourgogne and Dona Teresa. After he died, she was chased out of town because of an illicit love affair, but in death Henri and Teresa were reunited in their tombs in the Chapel of…
Braga Shopping
The town's best outlet for gifts and handmade souvenirs is in the tourist office. You'll find an impressive array of appealingly textured linens, pottery and ceramics, and woodcarvings that evoke the values and traditions of northern Portugal.
Nearby is a textile factory that transforms flax into linens; the factory outlet boasts a rich stock of houseware linens, some of them of heirloom quality. Head 4km (2 1/2 miles) north of the city, following signs to Prado. In the hamlet of São Paio Merelim, you'll find the factories of Edgar Duarte Abreu, São Paio de Merelim (tel. 25/362-11-92).
Braga Nightlife
As a university city with a population as young and hip as any comparable city in Europe, Braga has a lot of nightlife, most of it spinning around dozens of bars and low-rent dance clubs. The best bars lie almost adjacent to one another, near the corner of Avenida Central and Praça da República. Our favorite is Café Vianna (tel. 25/326-23-36; Mon-Sat 7am-2am; Sun 9am-midnight). It serves coffee, wine, and whiskey in settings redolent of local gossip and intrigue.
