View source for Braga

{{Short description|Municipality and City in North, Portugal}}
{{Distinguish|Bragança, Portugal}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox Portuguese subdivision
| type            = municipality
|official_name      = 
|image_flag         = Pt-brg1.png
|flag_border        = no
|image_shield       = BRG.png 
| image_skyline           = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Braga Banco Portugal (cropped).jpg
| photo1b                 = Basílica Nossa Senhora do Sameiro (6) (cropped).jpg
| photo2a                 = Igreja do Convento dos Congregados, Braga (16778987800).jpg
| photo2b                 = Bom Jesus 2017 (9) (cropped).jpg
| photo2c                 = Aerial photograph of Mosteiro de Tibães (6) (cropped).jpg
| photo3a                 = Arco da Porta Nova - panoramio.jpg
| photo3b                 = Paço Episcopal Bracarense Barroco (cropped2).jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 280
| foot_montage            = Top: [[Banco de Portugal]]; [[Sameiro Sanctuary]]; middle: [[Congregados Church]]; [[Bom Jesus do Monte]]; [[Monastery of São Martinho de Tibães|Tibães Monastery]]; bottom: [[Arco da Porta Nova]]; [[Episcopal Palace, Braga|Braga Episcopal Palace]].
}}
|image_location     = LocalBraga.svg
|region             = Norte
|CIM                = [[Cávado (intermunicipal community)|Cávado]]
|district           = [[Braga District|Braga]]
|parishes           = [[#Human geography|37, see text]]
|leader_name        = [[Ricardo Rio]] 
|leader_party       = [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]
|coordinates        = {{coord|41|33|4|N|8|25|42|W|type:adm1st_region:PT_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
|elevation          = 200
|elevation_min      = 
|elevation_max      = 558
|area_total         = 183.40
|population_as_of   = 2021
|population_total   = 193324<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/portugal/admin/braga/1120303__braga/]</ref>
|patron             = 
|postal_code        = 47xx 
|area_code          = 253, 257 
|website            = {{URL|http://www.cm-braga.pt}}
}}
'''Braga''' ({{IPA|pt-PT|ˈbɾaɣɐ|lang}}, {{small|also}} {{IPA|pt-PT|ˈbɾagɐ||Pt-pt Braga FF.ogg}}; {{langx|cel-x-proto|Bracara}}) is a [[cities of Portugal|city]] and a [[Municipalities of Portugal|municipality]], capital of the northwestern [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Braga (district)|district of Braga]] and of the historical and cultural [[Minho Province]]. Braga Municipality had a resident population of 201,583 inhabitants (in 2023),<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Portugal |url=https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0008272&contexto=bd&selTab=tab2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618173525/https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0008272&contexto=bd&selTab=tab2 |archive-date=18 June 2023 |access-date=17 July 2024 |website=www.ine.pt}}</ref> representing the seventh largest municipality in Portugal by population. Its area is 183.40&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/nuts_nomenclature/documents/PT-LAU.xls Eurostat] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007042623/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/nuts_nomenclature/documents/PT-LAU.xls |date=7 October 2012 }}</ref> Its agglomerated urban area extends to the [[Cávado River]] and is the third most populated urban area in Portugal, behind [[Lisbon Metropolitan Area|Lisbon]] and [[Porto Metropolitan Area]]s.

It is host to the oldest Portuguese archdiocese, the [[Archdiocese of Braga]] of the [[Catholic Church]] and it is the seat of the [[Primacy of the Spains]]. During the [[Roman Empire]], then known as '''Bracara Augusta''', the settlement was the capital of the Roman province of [[Gallaecia]] and would later become the capital of the [[Kingdom of the Suebi]], one of the first territories to separate from the Roman Empire in the 5th century. Inside the city there is also a [[Castle of Braga|castle tower]] that can be visited. Nowadays, Braga is among the most noted entrepreneurial and technological centers of the country,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marmé |first=Paulo |date=2023-10-12 |title=Braga no centro da estratégia da Issuu |url=https://www.forbespt.com/centro-de-braga-da-issuu-ja-tem-sido-fundamental-em-muitas-inovacoes-que-introduzimos/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Forbes Portugal |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mercedes abre centro tecnológico em Braga. Quer contratar 100 pessoas em 2022 |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/detalhe/mercedes-abre-centro-tecnologico-em-braga-quer-contratar-100-pessoas-em-2022 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.jornaldenegocios.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bosch investe 15 milhões para ampliar fábrica de Braga |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/industria/detalhe/bosch-investe-15-milhoes-para-ampliar-fabrica-de-braga |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.jornaldenegocios.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-03 |title=Criação de empresas cresce em Braga e descem as insolvências e encerramentos |url=https://www.diariodominho.pt/noticias/braga/criacao-de-empresas-cresce-em-braga-e-descem-as-insolvencias-e-encerramentos-222009 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Diário do Minho |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-10 |title=Startup do futuro são "minúsculas". Em Braga, são Startup.Nano |url=https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/fazedores/startup-do-futuro-sao-minusculas-em-braga-sao-startupnano-12843319.html |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Dinheiro Vivo |language=pt-PT}}</ref> as well as a major hub for inland [[North Region, Portugal|Northern Portugal]], and it is an important stop on [[the Portuguese Way]] path of the Road of St James. The city hosted two games of the [[UEFA Euro 2004]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-18 |title=Estádio Municipal de Braga |url=https://webraga.pt/visitar/monumentos/estadio-municipal-de-braga/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=We Braga |language=en-US}}</ref> and was the [[European Youth Capital]] in 2012.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.bragacej2012.com/?lang=en_GB |title=Braga 2012 Capital Europeia da Juventude |location=Braga, Portugal |year=2012 |access-date=19 April 2012 |language=pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504074531/http://www.bragacej2012.com/?lang=en_GB |archive-date=4 May 2012}}</ref>

== History ==
{{See also|Timeline of Braga|Ecclesiastical history of Braga}}
[[File:Braga-mapa mediaval.jpg|235px|left|thumb|A 16th-century map of Braga, when the city was enclosed by its mediaeval wall. The large building in the centre is the [[Braga Cathedral|Cathedral]], while the Episcopal Palace and courtyards can be seen above the cathedral and the ancient [[Braga Castle|Castle of Braga]]]] 
[[File:Ponte_do_Porto_(5).JPG|thumb|235px|left|''[[Ponte de Prozelo]]'', Braga]]

=== Pre-Roman ===

Human occupation of the region of Braga dates back thousands of years, documented by vestiges of monumental structures starting in the [[Megalithic]] era. During the [[Iron Age]], the [[Castro culture]] extended into the northwest, characterized by [[Bracari]] peoples who occupied the high ground in strategically located fortified settlements ([[Castro (village)|castrum]]).

The region became the domain of the ''Callaici Bracarii'', a [[Celts|Celtic]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFR2AgAAQBAJ&q=origem+celta+braga+bracara&pg=PA45|title=Introdução à História da Língua e Cultura Portuguesas|first=José Barbosa|last=Machado|date=1 January 2014|publisher=Edições Vercial|isbn=9789897001857|access-date=27 March 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> tribe who occupied what is now northern Portugal, [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] and Asturias in the northwest of [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]].

=== Roman rule ===
The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] began their conquest of the region around 136 BC, and finished it, by conquering the northern regions, during the reign of [[Emperor Augustus]]. The civitas of '''Bracara Augusta''' was founded in 16 BC; in the context of the administrative reorganization of these Roman acquisitions, Bracara was rededicated to the Emperor taking on the name ''Bracara Augusta''. The city of Bracara Augusta developed greatly during the 1st century and reached its maximum extension around the 2nd century.

Towards the end of the 3rd century, the [[Diocletianus|Emperor Diocletian]] promoted the city to the status of capital of the administrative area [[Conventus bracarensis]], the southwestern area of the newly founded Roman province of Gallaecia.

===Braga in Late Antiquity and Middle Ages===

[[File:Iberia 500.svg|thumb|left|350px|Iberian Peninsula around 500, based on map Hispania 476 AD]]

The city was described as prosperous by the poet [[Ausonius]], in the 4th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Marques |first=António Henrique R. de Oliveira |title=História de Portugal : manual para uso de estudantes e outros curiosos de assuntos do passado pátrio |date=1997 |publisher=Presença <!--|year=1993--> |isbn=972-23-2189-7 |edition=13th |location=Lisboa |pages=43–44 |oclc=476465662}}</ref> Between 402 and 470 the [[Migration Period|Germanic Invasions of the Iberian Peninsula]] occurred, and the area was conquered by the [[Suebi]], a [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] people from Central Europe. According to records the city was protected by a wall, still in use since the 3rd century, and the old [[Roman amphitheatre]] was repurposed into a fortress.<ref name=":0"/> In 410, the Suebi established a Kingdom in northwest Iberia covering what is present-day's Northern half of Portugal,<ref>[[E. A. Thompson|Thompson, E. A.]] ''Romans and Barbarians: The Decline of the Western Empire''. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1982. {{ISBN|0-299-08700-X}} pp. 153–154.</ref> Galicia and Asturias, which they maintained as ''[[Kingdom of Galicia|Gallaecia]]'', and had Bracara as their capital. This kingdom was founded by [[Hermeric]] and lasted for over 150 years. However, the departure of the [[Vandals]] and the arrival of the [[Visigoths]] brought a new instability to the region. Between 419 and 422, Braga was threatened by the Vandals so it prepared itself for a siege, closed its gates and refused to open them; this led to the destruction of the surrounding countryside.<ref name=":0"/> Nevertheless, between 429 and 455, the Suebi made a military comeback in Iberia reinforcing their hold in Galeicia and [[Lusitania]].<ref name=":0"/> In 455, while the Visigothic king [[Theodoric II]] sacked Braga, utterly destroying many historical and archaeological records,<ref name=":0" /> the Suebi king [[Rechiar]] escaped the city, wounded, to [[Porto]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Díaz Martínez |first=Pablo de la Cruz |title=El reino suevo (411-585) |date=2011 |isbn=978-84-460-3648-7 |location=Tres Cantos, Madrid, España |oclc=958059531}}</ref> However, records of a list of dioceses and parishes of Braga, made in 570 still exist.<ref name=":0"/> By about 584, the Visigoths took permanent control of Gallaecia from the Suebi, and Braga was made a provincial capital.

Because historians are still unsure of the dating of the [[Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão]], in [[Lamego]], currently Braga hosts the oldest [[chapel]] in Portugal, the [[Chapel of São Frutuoso]]. The chapel was built by the Visigoths on top of a Roman temple to [[Asclepius]] and it was made to be a Royal Chapel. In 656 AD, it was consecrated by [[Fructuosus of Braga|Saint Fructuosus]]<ref name=":0" /> to be used as his tomb.

[[File:Braga-sec-xvii.png|235px|thumb|A 17th-century engraving of Braga, showing the walls of the city, which were progressively demolished to make way for new constructions]]
[[File:Rua Júlio Lima.JPG|235px|thumb|A view of ''Rua Júlio Lima'' at the beginning of the 20th century]]

Historical records show, so far, that the first known [[:pt:Lista de bispos e arcebispos de Braga|bishop of Braga]] was named ''Paternus'',<ref name=":0" /> who famously renounced [[priscillianism]] at the [[First Council of Toledo]], in September of 400 AD. We also have records of a bishop named ''Balconius'' (415-447), who was also recorded to be present when the Iberian clergy received, in 435, a German priest from [[Arabia Petraea|Arabia]] accompanied by several Greeks with news from the [[Council of Ephesus]] (431).<ref name=":0"/> ''Balconius'' was also a contemporary and correspondent of [[Pope Leo I]].<ref name=":0"/>

Tradition, however, states that [[Peter of Rates|Saint Peter of Rates]] was the first bishop of Braga, a Jew personally elevated to the role by [[James the Great|Saint James]]. Another bishop, [[Saint Ovidius]] (d. 135 AD) is also sometimes considered one of the first bishops of this city.

Braga had an important role in the ''[[Christianization]]'' of the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. In the early 5th century, [[Paulus Orosius]] (a friend of [[Augustine of Hippo]]) wrote several [[Theology|theological]] works that expounded the Christian faith. While thanks to the work of [[Martin of Braga|Saint Martin of Braga]] the Suebi in Iberia renounced the [[Arianism|Arian]] and [[Priscillianist]] heresies during two synods held here in the 6th century.<ref name=":0" /> It is also worth noting that Rechiar, the suebi king, was also the first Germanic king in Europe to convert to [[Chalcedonian Christianity|Chalcedonian Christianism]], predating [[Clovis I|Clovis]] of the [[Franks]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Visigothic Spain : new approaches |date=1980 |publisher=Clarendon Press |others=Edward James |isbn=0-19-822543-1 |location=Oxford |oclc=5100979}}</ref> At the time, Martin also founded an important [[Monastery of Dumio|monastery]] in [[Dumio]] (''Dume''), and it was in Braga that the [[Archbishopric of Braga]] held their councils. There were also some attempts at further elevating the religious status of the city, such as Paulus Orosius and [[Avitus of Braga]]'s attempt at bringing relics of [[Saint Stephen]], from the [[Holy Land]] to Braga. Originally, Avitus entrusted the delivery of the relics to Paulus Orosius. However, after arriving at [[Mallorca|Majorca]], the theologian heard news of the invasion of the peninsula by the [[Vandals]] and halted his pilgrimage to return to [[North Africa]]. The relics never reached their destination and their fates are unknown.<ref>{{Cite book |title=A dictionary of early Christian biography: and literature to the end of the sixth century A.D. ; with an account of the principal sects and heresies |date=2014 |publisher=Hendrickson Publ |isbn=978-1-61970-269-1 |editor-last=Wace |editor-first=Henry |location=Peabody, Mass. |pages=1263–1264 |editor-last2=Piercy |editor-first2=William Coleman}}</ref>

As a consequence, the Archbishops of Braga later claimed the title of ''Primatus Totus Hispania'', claiming supremacy over the entire Hispanic church. Yet, their authority was never accepted throughout [[Hispania]], and today they only retain the title of Primate of Portugal. The bishop ''Balconius'', who was later elevated to become the first [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga|Archbishop of Braga]], and according to later sources, was also the first to be given said title.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aranha |first=Boaventura Maciel |url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-NwzgDXrRmIC&rdid=book--NwzgDXrRmIC&rdot=1 |title=Cuidados da morte e descuidos da vida... Com a addicao das prodigios as vidas dos dous mayores santos... |publisher=na officina de Francisco Borges de Sousa |year=1761 |pages=276}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Cunha |first=D. Rodrigo da |url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=tEu_dU66MQkC&rdid=book-tEu_dU66MQkC&rdot=1 |title=Primeira [-segunda] parte, da historia ecclesiastica dos arcebispos de Braga, e dos Santos, e Varoes illustres, que florecerão neste arcebispado. Por dom Rodrigo da Cunha arcebispo, & senhor de Braga, primàz das Hespanhas |year=1634 |volume=II |pages=18–22 |language=pt}}</ref>

The transition from Visigothic reigns to the [[Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula|Muslim conquest of Iberia]] was very obscure, representing a period of decline for the city. The Moors briefly captured Braga in 714–716, but were repelled by Christian forces under [[Alfonso I of Asturias]] in 741,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Menéndez Pidal |first1=Ramón |title=PRIMERA CRÓNICA GENERAL. ESTORIA DE ESPAÑA DE ALFONSO X|url=https://www.boe.es/biblioteca_juridica/abrir_pdf.php?id=PUB-LH-2022-258|date=1906 |publisher=Biblioteca Digital de Castilla y León |page=357 |edition=2022 |access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref> (alongside [[Chaves, Portugal|Chaves]], [[Porto]] and [[Lamego]]), with intermittent attacks until 868 when they were definitively ousted by [[Alfonso III of Asturias]]. The [[bishopric]] was restored in 1070 and elevated to new heights. The first new [[Archbishop]], Peter of Braga (?-1096), immediately started rebuilding the [[Braga Cathedral|Cathedral]] (which was modified many times during the following centuries). According to historical records and oral tradition, the Archbishop [[Diego Gelmírez]] of [[Santiago de Compostela]], fearing the rise of the Cathedral of Braga, stole the [[relic]]s of Braga's saints in an attempt to diminish the religious importance of the city.<ref name=":1"/> The relics only [[Translation (relic)|returned]] to Braga in the 1990s.

When, after his death, [[Alfonso III the Great]] of the [[Kingdom of Asturias]] divided his kingdom among his sons in 908, he assigned the [[Kingdom of Galicia]] to [[Ordoño II of Galicia|Ordoño of Galicia]], who established his capital in Braga.<ref>{{Cite book |last=de Braga |first=Bernardo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sn9XAAAAcAAJ&dq=braga+ordonho+I&pg=PA25 |title=Tratado sobre a precedencia do Reino de Portugal ao Reino de Napoles |publisher=Typogr. da revista |year=1843 |editor-last=da Silveira Pinto Albano |editor-first=Antero |pages=25}}</ref> Between 1093 and 1147, Braga became the residential seat of the Portuguese court. In the early 12th century, [[Henry, Count of Portugal|Count Henry of Portugal]] and bishop [[Gerald of Braga|Geraldo de Moissac]] reclaimed the archbishopric seat for Braga, with power over a large area in Iberia. The medieval city developed around the cathedral, with the maximum authority in the city retained by the archbishop.

===Braga in the Kingdom of Portugal===
[[File:Camara de braga.jpg|thumb|235px|The 18th century municipal hall that houses the local government authority]]
[[File:Vista da cidade de Braga c1849-1873.jpg|thumb|235px|The skyline of Braga during the mid-19th century.]]

Braga as the main center of Christianity in Iberia, during the [[Reconquista]] (until the emergence of Santiago de Compostela and, later, the conquest of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]] from the Muslims, in 1085), held a prominent stage in medieval politics, being a major contributor to the Independence of Portugal with the intervention of the [[Paio Mendes|Archbishop D. Paio Mendes]] in the Vatican, with [[Pope Alexander III]], which lead to the promulgation of the [[Manifestis Probatum|Bula Manifestis Probatum]], in 1179, recognizing Portugal as an independent Kingdom under [[Afonso I of Portugal|D. Afonso I Henriques]]. It is traditionally told that the future king was baptized by [[Gerald of Braga|Saint Gerald of Braga]], although the exact location is still being debated.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cunha |first=D. Rodrigo da |url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rodrigo_da_Cunha_Primeira_segunda_parte_da_histori?id=tEu_dU66MQkC |title=Primeira [-segunda] parte, da historia ecclesiastica dos arcebispos de Braga, e dos Santos, e Varoes illustres, que florecerão neste arcebispado. Por dom Rodrigo da Cunha arcebispo, & senhor de Braga, primàz das Hespanhas |year=1634 |volume=II |pages=2–29 |language=pt|author-link=Rodrigo da Cunha}}</ref> Because of this support for D. Afonso Henriques, the new king gave large privileges to the city of Braga handing it over to direct control of the Church, basically making it a personal fiefdom of the Archbishop. This legal particularism continued all throughout history until the [[5 October 1910 revolution|instauration]] of the [[First Portuguese Republic|Republic]] giving the city and its surrounding area the nickname of "''Paiz Bracarense''" (roughly translated as "Country of Braga").<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bandeira |first=Miguel |date=1993 |title=O espaço urbano de Braga em meados do séc. XVIII |url=https://ojs.letras.up.pt/index.php/geografia/article/view/7787 |journal=Revista da Faculdade de Letras - Geografia |volume=IX |pages=171–173}}</ref>

In the 16th century, due to its distance from the coast and provincial status, Braga did not profit from the adventures associated with the [[Age of Discovery|Age of Portuguese Discoveries]] (which favoured cities like [[Lisbon]], [[Évora]] and [[Coimbra]], new seats for the Portuguese court). Yet, Archbishop Diogo de Sousa, who sponsored several urban improvements in the city, including the enlargement of streets, the creation of public squares and the foundation of hospitals and new churches, managed to modernize the community. He expanded and remodelled the cathedral by adding a new chapel in the [[Manueline|Manueline style]], and generally turning the mediaeval town into a [[Renaissance]] city.

A similar period of rejuvenation occurred during the 18th century, when the archbishops of the [[House of Braganza]] contracted architects like [[André Soares (architect)|André Soares]] and [[Carlos Amarante]], to modernize and rejuvenate the city; they began a series of architectural transformations to churches and civic institutions in the [[Baroque|Baroque style]], including the municipal hall, public library, the [[Bom Jesus do Monte|Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte]] and many urban palaces. [[D. Luís de Sousa]] was another main archbishop who, with other merits, ordered the Church of the Parish of Saint Victor to be rebuilt, ordered the [[Avenida Central|Campo de S. Ana]] to be enlarged, to rebuild the Church of S. Vicente, to requalify the Chapel of S. Sebastian and the construction of the Igreja dos Congregados which would later be monumentalized into the current version of the [[Congregados Basilica|Basilica of the Congregados]]. Likewise, under the auspices of this diplomatic archbishop, the [[Canon regular|canon]] of the Braga Chapter, João Meira Carrilho, ordered the construction of the Chapel of the [[Oratory of Saint Philip Neri|Congregation of the Oratory]] that existed within the Campo de S. Ana (modern day ''Avenida Central'').<ref>{{Cite book |last=Portocarrero |first=Gustavo |title=Braga na Idade Moderna : paisagem e identidade |date=2010 |publisher=CEIPHAR |isbn=978-972-95143-2-6 |location=Tomar |pages=81–100 |oclc=733958410}}</ref> The old fortress built on top of the Roman amphitheatre still stood in the 18th century (a description of it was made during the reign of [[Maria I of Portugal|Queen D. Maria I]]), in the southern part of [[Maximinos]].<ref name=":0" />

In 1758, Braga, like many other places, was included in the census requested by the monarchy, under the [[Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal|1st Marquis of Pombal]]. These records are known as the [[Parochial Memories of 1758|Parochial Memories]] (''Memórias Paroquiais'') which can be consulted through various sources.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Capela |first=José Viriato |url=http://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/ |title=As freguesias do distrito de Braga nas Memórias Paroquiais de 1758: a construção do imaginário minhoto setecentista |date=2003}}</ref>

In March 1809 it was the scene of the [[Battle of Braga (1809)|Battle of Braga]], when French troops under [[Marshal Soult]] took the town from its Portuguese garrison. With the invasion of French troops, during the [[Peninsular Wars]] the city was relegated, once again, to a provincial status. But, by the second half of that century, with influence from Portuguese immigrants living in Brazil, new money and tastes resulted in improvements to architecture and infrastructures.

===Braga in the Republic===
The [[Castle of Braga]], previously located in the city center, was destroyed in 1905 (to great popular fanfair), despite attempts to save it by several people such as archaeologist Albano Belino, who tried to change the location of his municipal museum to the building in an attempt to protect it. Belino, disgusted, suffered from a [[stroke]], dying the following year and ending up donating his estate to the ''Archaeological Museum of the Martins Sarmento de Guimarães Society''. Albano Belino's dream of creating a museum in Braga was only realized in 1918, with the founding of a museum directly precursor to the [[Dom Diogo de Sousa Regional Museum of Archaeology]].

On 28 May 1926, [[General officer|General]] [[Manuel Gomes da Costa|Gomes da Costa]] began his march from Braga to [[Lisbon]] starting the [[28 May 1926 coup d'état|Revolution of 28 May]], where he abolished the [[First Portuguese Republic|First Republic]] and implementing the dictatorial government which would eventually become the [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]]. In the tenth anniversary of the Revolution, dictator [[António de Oliveira Salazar]], visited the city prompting a large fair, a parade and a speech, which he gave on the balcony of the Town Hall. Afterwards, the dictator would return several times to the city in its anniversary, such as the 40th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salazar no 40.º Aniversário do 28 de Maio de 1926 |url=https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/salazar-no-40-o-aniversario-do-28-de-maio-de-1926/ |website=RTP}}</ref>

In the 20th century, Braga faced similar periods of growth and decline; demographic and urban pressures, from urban-to-rural migration meant that the city's infrastructures had to be improved in order to satisfy greater demands.

==Geography==

===Physical geography===
[[File:Bom Jesus (Braga).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Snow in Braga. Picture: [[Bom Jesus do Monte|Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte]]]]
Situated in the heart of Minho, Braga is located in a transitional region between the east and west: between mountains, forests, grand valleys, plains and fields, constructing natural spaces, moulded by human intervention. Geographically, with an area of {{convert|184|km2|mi2}} it is bordered in the north by the municipalities of [[Vila Verde]] and [[Amares]], northeast and east by [[Póvoa de Lanhoso]], south and southeast with [[Guimarães]] and [[Vila Nova de Famalicão]] and west by the municipality of [[Barcelos, Portugal|Barcelos]].<ref name="Diagnostic">{{citation |url=http://www.saudepublica.web.pt/TrabPedro/ACES-Brg_DS-2009-2.pdf |contribution=Caracterização do Concelho de Braga |title=Diagnóstico do Concelho de Braga |first=P. Gomes |last=Pereira |publisher=Unidade de Saúde Pública de Braga |location=Braga, Portugal |language=pt |year=2009 |access-date=21 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924094453/http://www.saudepublica.web.pt/TrabPedro/ACES-Brg_DS-2009-2.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[topography]] in the municipality is characterized by irregular valleys, interspersed by mountainous spaces, fed by rivers running in parallel with the principal rivers. In the north it is limited by the [[Cávado River]], in the south by terrain of the Serra dos Picos to a height of {{convert|566|m|ft}} and towards the east by the Serra dos Carvalhos to a height of {{convert|479|m|ft}}, opening to the municipalities of Vila Nova de Famalicão and Barcelos. The territory extends from the northeast to southwest, accompanying the valleys of the two rivers, fed by many of its tributaries, forming small platforms between {{convert|20|m|ft}} and {{convert|570|m|ft}}.

The municipality lies between {{convert|20|m|ft}} and {{convert|572|m|ft}}, with the urbanized centre located at approximately {{convert|215|m|ft}}. In the north, where the municipality is marked by the Cavado, the terrain is semi-planar, the east is mountainous owing to the Serra do Carvalho {{convert|479|m|ft}}, Serra dos Picos {{convert|566|m|ft}}, Monte do Sameiro {{convert|572|m|ft}} and Monte de Santa Marta {{convert|562|m|ft}}. Between the Serra do Carvalho and Serra dos Picos is the River Este, forming the valley of Vale d’Este. Similarly, between the Serra dos Picos and Monte do Sameiro, there exists the plateau of Sobreposta-Pedralva. To the south and west, the terrain is a mix of mountains, plateaus and medium-size valleys, permitting the passage of the River Este, and giving birth to other confluences including the River Veiga, River Labriosca and various ravines.

===Climate===
Braga has a [[warm-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Csb'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Csbk'') similar to other cities in the northwest Iberian Peninsula except for having significantly hotter summer temperatures due to being some distance from the ocean: the absolute maximum is as much as {{convert|5|C-change|0}} higher than neighbouring [[A Coruña]] or Santiago de Compostela. The highest and lowest recorded temperatures are {{convert|42.2|°C|1}} and {{convert|-7|°C|1}} respectively.
The climate is affected by the Atlantic Ocean which influences westerly winds that are channeled through the region's valleys, transporting large humid air masses. Consequently, the climate tends to be pleasant with clearly defined seasons. The air masses have the effect of maintaining morning relative humidity around 80%: annual mean temperatures hover between {{convert|12.5|C|F}} and {{convert|17.5|C|F}}. Owing to nocturnal cooling, frost usually forms frequently between three and four months of the year (about 29 days of frost annually)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate normals for Braga (1971-2000) |url=https://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_71-00_BRAGA_POSTO_AGRARIO.pdf |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=[[Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera]]}}</ref> and annually the region receives {{convert|1449|mm|in}} of precipitation, with the major intensity occurring between fall/winter and spring.

{{Weather box
| location = Braga, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1941–present, altitude: {{convert|190|m|abbr=on}}
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 24.0
| Feb record high C = 23.5
| Mar record high C = 29.5
| Apr record high C = 31.0
| May record high C = 35.6
| Jun record high C = 38.5
| Jul record high C = 41.1
| Aug record high C = 42.2
| Sep record high C = 38.5
| Oct record high C = 33.3
| Nov record high C = 28.5
| Dec record high C = 24.1
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 13.7
| Feb high C = 14.8
| Mar high C = 17.6
| Apr high C = 18.3
| May high C = 21.1
| Jun high C = 25.4
| Jul high C = 27.8
| Aug high C = 28.0
| Sep high C = 25.5
| Oct high C = 20.9
| Nov high C = 16.8
| Dec high C = 14.4
| year high C = 20.3
| Jan mean C = 9.0
| Feb mean C = 9.9
| Mar mean C = 12.3
| Apr mean C = 13.2
| May mean C = 15.8
| Jun mean C = 19.5
| Jul mean C = 21.4
| Aug mean C = 21.4
| Sep mean C = 19.4
| Oct mean C = 15.9
| Nov mean C = 12.3
| Dec mean C = 10.2
| year mean C = 15.0
| Jan low C = 4.3
| Feb low C = 4.9
| Mar low C = 7.0
| Apr low C = 7.9
| May low C = 10.4
| Jun low C = 13.5
| Jul low C = 14.9
| Aug low C = 14.7
| Sep low C = 13.2
| Oct low C = 10.8
| Nov low C = 7.7
| Dec low C = 6.0
| year low C = 9.6
| Jan record low C = -7.0
| Feb record low C = -4.5
| Mar record low C = -5.0
| Apr record low C = -1.2
| May record low C = -0.5
| Jun record low C = 3.3
| Jul record low C = 7.5
| Aug record low C = 6.7
| Sep record low C = 3.8
| Oct record low C = 2.5
| Nov record low C = -1.7
| Dec record low C = -2.5
| year record low C = 
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 176.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 114.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 121.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 130.8
| May precipitation mm = 112.9
| Jun precipitation mm = 48.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 22.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 34.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 81.7
| Oct precipitation mm = 191.7
| Nov precipitation mm = 193.9
| Dec precipitation mm = 220.2
| year precipitation mm = 1448.6
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 14.8
| Feb precipitation days = 13.5
| Mar precipitation days = 12.2
| Apr precipitation days = 13.5
| May precipitation days = 13.4
| Jun precipitation days = 8.2
| Jul precipitation days = 5.4
| Aug precipitation days = 4.7
| Sep precipitation days = 7.4
| Oct precipitation days = 12.7
| Nov precipitation days = 13.1
| Dec precipitation days = 15.5
| year precipitation days = 134.4
| source 1 = [[Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ipma.pt/bin/file.data/climate-normal/cn_81-10_BRAGA_POSTO_AGRARIO.pdf
| title = Normals Climatológicas | access-date = 6 June 2024 | publisher = Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, IPMA
}}</ref>
| date = March 2015
| source = 
}}

===Human geography===
{{wide image|Braga do Monte Picoto.jpg|770px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Braga, as seen from the Picoto hill}}
{{wide image|Braga-vale do Rio Este.jpg|770px|align-cap=center|A similar panorama taken from the Este River valley}}
[[File:Mapa densidade Braga.png|thumb|235px|left|Population density of the civil parishes in the municipality of Braga (2021 data)]]
{| border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="float:right;"
|
{{stack|
{{Historical populations
|title = Population of the<br/>municipality of Braga<br/><small>(1849–2021)</small>
| 1849 | 40004
| 1900 | 58339
| 1911 | 60836
| 1920 | 57019
| 1930 | 60761
| 1940 | 75846
| 1950 | 84142
| 1960 | 92938
| 1970 | 96220
| 1981 | 125472
| 1991 | 141256
| 2001 | 164192
| 2011 | 181474
| 2021 | 193333
}}
}}
|}
The municipality is densely populated, with approximately 962 inhabitants per square kilometre, equivalent to 181,474 residents (2011); it is one of the more populous territories in Portugal, as well as one of the "younger" markets.<ref name="INE">{{Citation |url=http://www.ine.pt/|title=Census de 1991, 2001 e Território em números de 2004 |language=pt |publisher=INE – Instituto Nacional de Estatistica |location=Lisbon, Portugal |access-date=24 March 2012 |year=2004}}</ref> The majority of the population concentrates in the urban area of Braga, itself, where densities are more than 10000 per square kilometre.

The Bracarense population consists of approximately 78954 male and 85238 female individuals, with 35% of the population less than 25 years of age, while seniors conform to 11% of the population; the working population of the municipality occupies 54% of this structure.<ref name=INE/> Although largely native Portuguese, other segments of the population include [[Brazilians]], [[African diaspora|Africans]] (principally from the former Portuguese colonies), [[Chinese people|Chinese]] and eastern European peoples, namely [[Ukrainians]].<ref name=INE/>
[[File:Adaúfe (P1000332).JPG|thumb|200px|Beach in Cávado River, Braga]]
The urban structure includes approximately 70,268 residences (2001), even as the typical classic representation of family only includes 51,173 members in the municipality.<ref name=INE/> The "extra" homes are primarily temporary residences, normally for students, migrant workers and professionals working in the city. There is, also, a great number of homes owned by Portuguese residents living overseas (who use the homes periodically while in Portugal) even as constant and development has attracted new growth in the population.<ref name=INE/> Further, the difference in resident to transitory population means that, on average, the population of Braga hovers between 174,000 and 230,000 individuals annually.<ref name=INE/>

Growth in the population, roughly 16.2% between 1991 and 2001, occurred mainly in the older suburban civil parishes, such as Nogueira (now abolished) (124.6%), Frossos (now abolished) (68.4%), Real (now abolished) (59.8%) and Lamaçães (now abolished) (50.9%).<ref name=INE/><ref>{{Cite web |title=0000200147 |url=https://files.dre.pt/1s/2013/01/01901/0000200147.pdf |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=DRE |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

=== Civil parishes ===
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 37 civil parishes (''freguesias''):<ref>{{cite web|title=Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 26–28|url=http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2013/01/01901/0000200147.pdf |access-date=18 July 2014|author=Diário da República|author-link=Diário da República|language=pt}}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Adaúfe]]
* [[Arentim e Cunha]]
* [[Braga (Maximinos, Sé e Cividade)]]
* [[Braga (São José de São Lázaro e São João do Souto)]]
* [[Cabreiros e Passos (São Julião)]]
* [[Celeirós, Aveleda e Vimieiro]]
* [[Crespos e Pousada]]
* [[Escudeiros e Penso (Santo Estêvão e São Vicente)]]
* [[Espinho (Braga)|Espinho]]
* [[Esporões]]
* [[Este (São Pedro e São Mamede)]]
* [[Ferreiros e Gondizalves]]
* [[Figueiredo (Braga)|Figueiredo]]
* [[Gualtar]]
* [[Guisande e Oliveira (São Pedro)]]
* [[Lamas (Braga)|Lamas]]
* [[Lomar e Arcos]]
* [[Merelim (São Paio), Panóias e Parada de Tibães]]
* [[Merelim (São Pedro) e Frossos]]
* [[Mire de Tibães]]
* [[Morreira e Trandeiras]]
* [[Nogueira, Fraião e Lamaçães]]
* [[Nogueiró e Tenões]]
* [[Padim da Graça]]
* [[Palmeira (Braga)|Palmeira]]
* [[Pedralva (Braga)|Pedralva]]
* [[Priscos]]
* [[Real, Dume e Semelhe]]
* [[Ruilhe]]
* [[Santa Lucrécia de Algeriz e Navarra]]
* [[São Vicente (Braga)|São Vicente]]
* [[São Victor]]
* [[Sequeira]]
* [[Sobreposta]]
* [[Tadim]]
* [[Tebosa]]
* [[Vilaça e Fradelos]]
{{div col end}}

There is no formal city government, only municipal government authority, with local administration handled by the individual ''juntas de freguesia'' or civil parish councils.

==Economy==
[[File:Nanotecnologia.jpg|thumb|right|The [[International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory]] (INL) in Braga.]]
{{Further|topic=the Braga music technology company|Imaginando}}<!--- place here now; maybe move to a future Companies subsection? ---> 
The major industries in the municipality are construction, metallurgy and mechanics, electrical and electronic equipment, software development and web design. The computer industry is significant. Braga hosts PRIMAVERA – Business Software Solutions SA (PRIMAVERA BSS) company headquarters,<ref>{{Cite web |title=De Braga para o mundo, a PRIMAVERA da cidade |url=https://alumni.uminho.pt/pt/news/Paginas/2014/De-Braga-para-o-mundo,-a-PRIMAVERA-da-cidade.aspx |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Alumni UMinho |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PRIMAVERA - Business Software Solutions SA |url=https://cotecportugal.pt/associates/primavera-business-software-solutions-sa/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=COTEC Portugal |language=pt-PT}}</ref> a Portuguese multinational software company best known for its leading enterprise [[project management software]]. The [[International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory]] (INL), a joint research center in [[nanotechnology]] established and funded by both the Portuguese and the Spanish governments, is also headquartered in Braga. The automotive industry has a long history in Braga. [[Aptiv]] operates a technical center for the development and production of automotive infotainment systems.<ref>{{Citation|last=Aptiv|title=Aptiv's Braga Technical Center|date=2019-11-13|url=https://vimeo.com/372992881|access-date=2021-01-16}}</ref> This plant was previously owned by [[Grundig]]. Next to Aptiv, [[Robert Bosch GmbH]] operates a similar technical center, mainly for branches of infotainment and sensors. This plant was previously founded by [[Blaupunkt]]. Bosch has been working closely with the [[University of Minho]] in Portugal since 2012, producing one of the country's largest university-corporate partnerships. In the process, many projects for the mobility of the future are being tackled. In 2018, [[Chancellor of Germany|German Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]] and Portuguese Prime Minister [[António Costa]] were on site for the launch of a new technology campus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Politikprominenz bei Bosch: Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und Premier Costa eröffnen Tech Center in Portugal|url=https://www.bosch-presse.de/pressportal/de/de/politikprominenz-bei-bosch-bundeskanzlerin-merkel-und-premier-costa-eroeffnen-tech-center-in-portugal-158976.html|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Bosch Media Service|language=de}}</ref> The university, headquartered in Braga, is also by itself a major driving force of the city's economy.

==Transport==
The municipality has a small-sized airfield ([[Aerodromo de Braga]]) in [[Palmeira (Braga)|Palmeira]]. The major international airport used by the people of Braga is the [[Sá Carneiro International Airport]] (also known as Porto Airport) located {{convert|50|km|mi}} away, in [[Porto Metropolitan Area]]. Access to the international airport located near Porto is made by public transit from Braga city centre (roughly 40 minutes) or aerobus (50 minutes).

Braga is serviced by both regional and high-speed rail connection to major urban centres in the country and abroad.

It has an efficient bus network (TUB - Transportes Urbanos de Braga) with 76 lines in the urban area and over a 300&nbsp;km network.

==Architecture==
<gallery>
File:Avenida_Central_em_Braga.jpg|Central Avenue in Braga
File:Campo das Hortas 2017 (7).jpg|Campo das Hortas, Braga
</gallery>
[[File:Torre de Menagem de Braga (2).JPG|thumb|170px|right|The remains of the historic [[keep]] of the [[Braga Castle|Castle of Braga]], a defensive structure that circled the old town]]
[[File:Capela dos Coimbras II.jpg|thumb|170px|right|The [[Coimbras Chapel|Chapel of the Coimbras]], one of the first [[Manueline]] era chapels in Braga]]<br />[[File:Arco da Porta Nova 01.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The Arch of ''Rua Souto'', commonly referred as the ''Arco da Porta Nova'', an 18th-century ceremonial arch]]The region of Braga is scattered with [[Neolithic]], Roman, Medieval and Modernist monuments, buildings and structures attracting tourists. Although there are many examples of these structures, only the following have been classified by the [[IGESPAR|Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico]] as [[National monuments of Portugal|National Monuments]]:

===Archaeological===
[[File:Geira Milha XXIX caminho.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Ancient Rome|Roman]] milestone XXIX on Via Romana XVIII – the road linking the [[Iberia]]n cities of Bracara Augusta and [[Astorga, Spain|Asturica Augusta]]]]
* Castro of São Mamede ({{lang|pt|Castro de Monte Redondo/Castro Monte Cossourado/Castro de São Mamede}})
* Roman [[Milestone#Roman Empire|milestones]], several Roman-era granite markers currently on display at the Museum D. Diogo de Sousa, dating from AD 41 to 238, that is, the reigns of Emperor [[Claudius]] to [[Maximinus II]].<ref name="SIPA1">{{cite web|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=364 |title=21 Marcos Miliários (série Capela) Braga incerta via (v.PT01130700002) |publisher=SIPA–Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |editor=SIPA |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=pt |first1=Isabel |last1=Sereno |first2=Paulo |last2=Dordio |year=1994 |access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref>
* [[Roman Thermae of Maximinus]] ({{langx|pt|Termas romanas de Maximinos/Alto da Cividade/Colina dos Maximinos}}), discovered in the 20th century, the [[thermae]] occupy {{convert|800|m2|ft2}}, in the civil parish of Braga (Maximinos, Sé e Cividade), and were constructed in the 1st to late 3rd century;<ref name="SIPA2">{{citation|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=307 |title=Termas romanas de Maximinos/Alto da Cividade/Colina dos Maximinos (v.PT010303070040) |publisher=SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |editor=SIPA|location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=pt|first1=Isabel |last1=Sereno |first2=Paulo |last2=Dordio |year=1994 |access-date=26 April 2012}}</ref>

===Civic===
* [[Arco da Porta Nova|Arch of Porta Nova/''Rua de Souto'']] ({{lang|pt|Arco da Porta Nova/Arco da Rua do Souto}}), a [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] and [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] arch, designed by [[André Soares (architect)|André Soares]] in the late 18th century, and decorates the western gate of a medieval wall. It was opened in 1512 and since has been traditionally used to present to promote to visiting dignitaries and celebrities.<ref name="SIPA3">{{cite web|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=762 |title=Arco da Porta Nova/Arco da Rua do Souto (v.PT01130700002) |publisher=SIPA–Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |editor=SIPA |location=Lisbon |language=pt |first1=Isabel |last1=Sereno |first2=Miguel |last2=Leão |first3=Sónia |last3=Basto |year=2010 |access-date=26 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317130402/http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=762 |archive-date=17 March 2012}}</ref>
* Palace of the Falcões ({{langx|pt|Palácio dos Falcões/Governo Civil de Braga}}), a Baroque-era palace originally commissioned by Francisco de Meira Carrilho on 23 July 1703, and later, upon successive renovations, used by the Civil Governor's residence;
* [[Fountain of the Idol]] ({{langx|pt|Fonte do Ídolo}}), the 1st century Roman fountain dedicated to an indigenous god, located in the central civil parish of Braga (São José de São Lázaro e São João do Souto);
* [[Aguas Ferreas Fountain|Fountain of the Iron Waters]] ({{langx|pt|Fonte das Águas Férreas}}), following the discovery in July 1173 of iron-rich springs in the parish of Fraião, Archbishop Gaspar de Bragança ordered the municipal council to begin the canalization of these waters for public use, giving rise to a series of fountains, such as the Baroque decorated main fountain;
* Hospital of São Marcos ({{langx|pt|Hospital de São Marcos}}), with a façade comparable to any religious monument in the city, the Hospital of São Marcos, is an example of the complex Baroque style of Carlos Amarante, featuring ornate double belfry and accents;
* [[Pillory of Braga]] ({{langx|pt|Pelourinho de Braga}}), the 15th century pillory, that marks municipal authority for the town, was constructed, demolished and moved various times, before being relocated on the grounds of the Sé Cathedral;<ref name="SIPA">{{citation|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=207 |title=Pelourinho de Braga (IPA.00000207/PT010303520013) |publisher=SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |editor=SIPA |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=pt |first1=Isabel |last1=Sereno |first2=João |last2=Santos |year=1994 |access-date=15 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821211406/http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=207 |archive-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>
* [[Raio Palace|Palace of Raio]] ({{langx|pt|Palácio de Raio}}), an 18th-century Baroque-Rococo urban residence, with richly decorated blue azulejo façade of Andre Soares;
* [[Residence of the Crivos]] ({{langx|pt|Casas das Gelosias/Casa dos Crivos}}), a Renaissance-era shop-residence constructed outside the old walls characteristic of late Renaissance architecture and one of the few examples of a building covered in wood-lattice façade from this period.
* [[Sete Fontes (Braga)|Seven Sources Aqueduct]] ({{langx|pt|Sete Fontes}}), a complex network of aqueducts that provided [[Drinking water|potable water]] to citizenry of Braga;
* [[Theatro Circo]] ({{langx|pt|Teatro Circo de Braga}}), 20th century revivalist theatre, known for its architecture, as much for the films, theatre plays and performances;
* [[Ponte do Prado|Bridge of Prado]] ({{lang|pt|Ponte do Prado}})
* Bridge of Prozelo ({{lang|pt|Ponte de Prozelo/Ponte do Porto}})

===Military===
* Tower of Santiago ({{langx|pt|Torre de Santiago e troço das antigas muralhas de Braga}}), part of the ancient walls of Braga, the Tower of Santiago was designed by Portuguese Baroque master André Soares, based on a mixture of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo elements;
* Tower of [[Braga Castle|Castle of Braga]] ({{lang|pt|Castelo de Braga}}), actually the remnants of the castle's [[keep]], constructed during the reign of King [[Denis of Portugal]], which was part of the defensive system of the city of Braga, and included a semi-circular walled enclosure centred on the Sé Cathedral.<ref name="SIPA6">{{cite web|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=1114 |editor=SIPA |publisher=SIPA–Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |title=Castelo de Braga, designadamente a Torre de Menagem (restos) |location=Lisbon |language=pt |year=2007 |access-date=26 February 2012 |first1=Isabel |last1=Sereno |first2=Paulo |last2=Dordio |first3=Joaquim |last3=Gonçalves |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112034135/http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=1114 |archive-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

===Religious===
[[File:Se Catedral de Braga.jpg|299x299px|thumb|The sculpted black rock of the [[Braga Cathedral|Sé Cathedral of Braga]]: seat of the Archbishop of Braga and [[Primate (bishop)|Primate of Portugal and of the Hispanias]].]]
[[File:Igrega de S Paulo Braga.jpg|thumb|170px|The simple Romanesque façade of the [[St Paul's Church, Braga|Church of São Paulo]]]]
[[File:PópuloBraga.jpg|thumb|170px|The [[Pópulo Church]], that includes convent, dependencies and cloister]]
[[File:Igreja de Santa Cruz em Braga.jpg|thumb|170px|The [[Holy Cross Church, Braga|Church of Santa Cruz]] courtesy the ''Irmandade de Santa Cruz]]
* [[Archbishop's Palace of Braga|Archiepiscopal Palace of Braga]] ({{langx|pt|Antigo Paço Arquiepiscopal de Braga}}), between the 14th–18th centuries, a religious residence, but after the 20th century, the home of the municipal offices, public library and archive;
* Chapel of the Espírito Santo ({{langx|pt|Capela do Espírito Santo}}), an example of mixed styles, the chapel includes elements of Baroque, Neoclassical and [[Mannerism|Manerist]] eras;
* Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Consolaçã ({{langx|pt|Capela de Nossa Senhora da Consolação}}), a simple single-nave chapel constructed in the Baroque-style
* Chapel of São Bento ({{langx|pt|Capela de São Bento}}), constructed in the middle of the 18th century, the chapel was blessed by Archbishop José of Bragança in 1755;
* Chapel of Senhor do Bom Sucesso ({{langx|pt|Capela do Senhor do Bom Sucesso}}), a Baroque and Neoclassical chapel, is highlighted by a main façade, typical of André Soares, but constructed by Carlos Amarante, at the beginning of his career, who timidly applied Neoclassical decorative elements;
* [[Coimbras Chapel|Chapel of the Coimbras]] ({{lang|pt|Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição/Capela dos Coimbras/Capela do Senhor Morto}}), a Manueline chapel, probably designed by [[Castilians|Castillian]] architect Filipe Odarte, with sculptures attributed to Hodart, an altar by João de Ruão and posterior tomb sculptures by the same artist.<ref name="SIPA4">{{cite web|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=770 |title=Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição/Capela dos Coimbras/Capela do Senhor Morto |publisher=SIPA –Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |editor=SIPA |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=pt |first1=Isabel |last1=Sereno |first2=João |last2=Santos |year=1994 |access-date=26 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401044642/http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=770 |archive-date=1 April 2012}}</ref>
* [[Holy Cross Church, Braga|Church of Santa Cruz]] ({{langx|pt|Igreja de Santa Cruz}}), and the ''Hospital of the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem'' ({{langx|pt|Irmandade de Santa Cruz de Jerusalem}}), constructed in 1581, and later supported by the nuns of the Order Hospitaler;
* [[Saint Eulália Church (Tenões, Braga, Portugal)|Church of Santa Eulália]] ({{langx|pt|Igreja de Santa Eulália}}), is a 13th–14th century [[Romanesque art|Romanesque]] church, located near [[Bom Jesus do Monte]];
* Church of Santa Maria ({{langx|pt|Igreja Paroquial de Ferreiros/Igreja de Santa Maria}}), constructed in 1560, under the orders of Archbishop Bartolomeu dos Mártires, as a church of the [[Society of Jesus]];
* Church of Santo André ({{langx|pt|Igreja Paroquial de Gondizalves/Igreja de Santo André}}), an example of the reformulations of the Modernist aesthetic of the mid-20th century: the 18th-century church was adapted and expanded after the parish's de-annexation in 1975;
* [[Chapel of São Frutuoso (Braga)|Chapel of São Frutuoso]], also known as the Chapel of São Frutuoso of Montélios or the Chapel of São Salvador of Montélios, is a pre-[[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] chapel, forming part of group of religious buildings that include the Royal Church originally built by the Visigoths in the 7th century, in the form of a Greek cross.<ref name="SIPA5">{{cite web|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=1903 |editor=SIPA |publisher=SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |title=Capela de São Frutuoso de Montélios/Capela de São Salvador de Montélios |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=pt |year=2004 |first1=Isabel |last1=Sereno |first2=Paulo |last2=Dordio |first3=Joaquim |last3=Gonçalves |url-status=dead |access-date=15 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203072716/http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=1903 |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>
* Chapel of São Sebastião das Caravelheiras ({{langx|pt|Capela de São Sebastião das Caravelheiras}})
* Church of São Martinho ({{langx|pt|Igreja Matriz de Espinho/Igreja de São Martinho}}), the Baroque and Classical parochial church of Espinho, known for its ornate façade and belfrey, as well as its Rococo interior;
* Church of São Miguel de Frossos ({{langx|pt|Igreja Paroquial de Frossos/Igreja de São Miguel}}), a 16th-century parochial church in the civil parish of Frossos;
* Church of São Miguel de Gualtar ({{langx|pt|Igreja Paroquial de Gualtar/Igreja de São Miguel}}), part of the intense building period of the 16th–17th century, the parochial church of Gultar was constructed in the 17th century, but later remodelled during the 18th century;
* Church of São Paio ({{langx|pt|Igreja Paroquial de Arcos/Igreja de São Paio}}), located in [[Arcos (Braga)|Arcos]], the church is an early 18th-century church (built in 1706);
* [[St Paul's Church, Braga|Church of São Paulo]] ({{langx|pt|Igreja de São Paulo e Seminário de Santiago}}), the historical seminary and church of Saint Paul with its contrast between stoic façade and decorated Baroque interior, built in the era of archbishop [[Bartholomew of Braga|Bartholomew]];
* Church of São Pedro de Lomar ({{langx|pt|Igreja de São Pedro de Lomar}}), remnant of ancient Benedictine monastery of São Pedro in [[Lomar (Braga)|Lomar]], the Church of Saint Peter exemplifies a mix of Baroque, Mannerist and Neoclassical architecture;
* Church of São Pedro de Maximinos ({{langx|pt|Igreja de São Pedro de Maximinos}}), known for the missing organ of organist Manuel de Sá Couto;
* Church of São Tiago ({{langx|pt|Igreja Paroquial da Cividade/Igreja de São Tiago}})
* [[St Vincent's Church, Braga|Church of São Vicente]] ({{langx|pt|Igreja de São Vicente}})
* [[Carmo Church (Braga)|Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo]] ({{langx|pt|Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo}}), principally recognizable for its central spire/belfrey, which was designed by João de Moura Coutinho de Almeida e Eça, and constructed in the 17th–18th century;
* [[Misericordia Church|Church of the Misericórdia]] ({{langx|pt|Igreja da Misericórdia}})
* Church of the Third Order of St. Francis ({{langx|pt|Igreja dos Terceiros}}), the ''Terceiros'' began the process of constructing their church in 1685, which they dedicated to ''Our Lady of Conception'' ({{langx|pt|Nossa Senhora da Conceição}});
* Church, Convent and College of the Congregation of São Filipe de Néri ({{langx|pt|Igreja dos Congregados}}), attributed to the architect André Soares, for the complex/risky façade of the church and corner convent windows, Monk's chapel (or Chapel of Our Lady of the Appearance), and retable of ''Our Lady of Pain'' ({{langx|pt|Nossa Senhora das Dores}})
* Convent of Nossa Senhora da Conceição ({{langx|pt|Convento da Nossa Senhora da Conceição}}), which includes the Chapel of São Domingos, an 18th-century convent, home to the Instituto Monsenhor Ariosa;
* Convent of Pópulo ({{langx|pt|Convento do Pópulo}}), the Mannerist, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical austere elements of the convent belying the extravagant interior, that was originally the home to Augustine monks, highlighted by the Baroque façade of the [[Populo Church|Church of Pópulo]] ({{langx|pt|Igreja de Pópulo}});
* Convent of Salvador ({{langx|pt|Convento do Salvador/Lar Conde de Agrolongo}}), began with the need to transfer the nuns from the Monastery of Vitorino das Donas in 1528
* Convent of São Francisco de Montélios ({{langx|pt|Convento de São Francisco/Igreja de São Jerónimo de Real}}), the Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical convent, highlighted by the imposing three-storey façade of the Church of São Jerónimo;
* Cross of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos ({{langx|pt|Cruzeiro da Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos}}), a Baroque cross on an ionic column, with an image of Christ in wood, surmounted by a rectangular Tuscan colonnade and roof;
* Cross of the Espírito Santo ({{langx|pt|Cruzeiro do Espírito Santo}})
* [[Monastery of Dumio]] ({{langx|pt|Ruínas Arqueológicas de São Martinho de Dume}}), the ancient religious seat founded by [[Martin of Braga]] in the provincial centre of [[Dume]];
* [[Monastery of Tibães]] ({{langx|pt|Mosteiro de Tibães}}), the 17th–18th century [[Benedictine]] monastery renowned for the ornate/artistic gilt work in its chancel and altars;
* [[Bom Jesus do Monte|Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte]] (inscribed on the World Heritage List in July, 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pt/|title=Portugal|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref>), constructed on Monte Santo, overlooking the [[urban sprawl]] of Braga, the 18th to early-19th century, [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassic]] sanctuary and church (itself preceded by Baroque stairway), is reachable by trail or [[Bom Jesus funicular]] (one of the oldest in [[Iberian Peninsula]]);
* [[Sameiro Sanctuary|Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Sameiro]] ({{langx|pt|Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Sameiro}}), isolated on the hilltop of ''Monte do Sameiro'', the church and retreat began in 1861, from the mind of Father Martinho António Pereira da Silva, who wished to construct a monument dedicated to ''Our Lady of the Conception'';
* [[Falperra Church|Sanctuary of Santa Maria Madalena]] ({{langx|pt|Santuário de Santa Maria Madalena/Santuário da Falperra}}), located on Monte Falperra, the Baroque-era sanctuary church, was designed by local architect André Soares, incorporating decorative elements into a two-bell tower homage to the Mary Magdalene;
* [[Braga Cathedral|Sé Cathedral of Braga]] ({{langx|pt|Sé Catedral de Braga}})
* Wayside shrine of São Brás ({{langx|pt|Alminhas de São Brás}}), although conjecturally a contemporary monument, the wayside shrine in Ferreiros has the characteristics of many Baroque monuments in Braga;
* Cross of Campo das Hortas ({{lang|pt|Cruzeiro do Campo das Hortas}})
* Cross of Santana ({{lang|pt|Cruzeiro de Santa Ana/Cruzeiro de Santana}})
* Cross of Tibães ({{lang|pt|Cruzeiro de Tibães}})

{{multiple image|align=center|image1=Abertura Braga Romana.JPG|image4=Braga Romana Opening.JPG|image2=Romanos.JPG|image3=Braga Romana 2012 01.JPG|width1=230|width2=156|width3=230|width4=230|footer=The city's annual Bracara Augusta Roman [[historical reenactment]] festival, which transforms the city's historical center and its citizens to their ancient selves.}}
{{clear}}

==Museums==
[[File:Aerial_photograph_of_Braga_2018_(31).jpg|thumb|250px|Braga, Portugal]]
In addition, many of the district's treasures and historical artifacts are housed in several museums that are scattered throughout the city, such as:
* [[Biscainhos Museum|Museum of the Biscainhos]] ({{langx|pt|Museu dos Biscainhos}}), housed in the historical ''Palace of the Biscainhos'', the museum exhibits a permanent collection of [[decorative art]], that includes [[furniture]], [[ceramics]], European and Oriental [[porcelain]], European [[Glass]], European and Portuguese [[watches]] and [[clock]]s;
* [[Braga Cathedral Treasure|Treasure Museum of the Sé Cathedral]] ({{langx|pt|Tesouro Museu da Sé Catedral}}), the collection varies, but collects together artefacts from the 16th to 18th century during the period of religious/cultural exploration, associated with the cathedral, including images and [[azulejo]] tiles;
* [[Image Museum (Portugal)|Museum of Image]] ({{langx|pt|Museu da Imagem}}), dedicated to photography, located near the ''Arco da Porta Nova'' and ''Braga Castle'';
* [[Museum Medina]] ({{langx|pt|Museu Medina}}), located in the same building as the Museum of Pius XII, the collection is the home to the 83 oil paintings and 21 drawings of the painter [[Henrique Medina]];
* [[Nogueira da Silva Museum|Museum of Nogueira da Silva]] ({{langx|pt|Museu Nogeuira da Silva}}), bequeathed to the [[University of Minho]], the collection includes artefacts, paintings, furniture and sculptures collected over a lifetime, such as Renaissance artwork, 17th furniture, ceramics and objects in [[ivory]], [[silver]] and [[religious art]];
* [[Pius XII Museum|Museum of Pius XII]] ({{langx|pt|Museu Pio XII}}), housing a collection of [[Palaeolithic]], [[Neolithic]] and [[Bronze Age]] [[Tool|implements]], [[Pre-historic]] and Luso-Roman [[pottery]];
* [[Dom Diogo de Sousa Museum]] ({{langx|pt|Museu D. Diogo de Sousa}}), its collection includes many items discovered during archaeological excavations within the municipality, extending as far back as the [[Palaeolithic]] to the [[Middle Ages]].
* [[Stringed Instruments Museum|Museum of String Instruments]] ({{langx|pt|Museu dos Cordofones}}), the collection features Portuguese instruments as far back as the Middle Ages including Cavaquinhos, Portuguese guitars, Mandolins and banjos among others.

==Education==
[[File:Avenida da Liberdade (Teatro Circo), Braga.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Circo Theatre, Avenida da Liberdade, Portugal]]
The city is the headquarters and main campus for the [[Universidade do Minho]] (Minho University), a [[public university]] founded in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Universidade do Minho |url=https://www.crup.pt/universidade-do-minho/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=CRUP |language=pt-pt}}</ref> A campus of the oldest [[private university]] of Portugal, a branch of the [[Universidade Católica Portuguesa]], is also established since 1947,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-21 |title=PSD Braga visita Universidade Católica Portuguesa |url=https://bragatv.pt/psd-braga-visita-universidade-catolica-portuguesa/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=História {{!}} UCP |url=https://www.ucp.pt/pt-pt/catolicainstitucional/historia |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.ucp.pt |language=pt-pt}}</ref> as well as the [[Escola Secundária Sá de Miranda]] (the oldest Secondary school in Braga).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Escola Sá de Miranda {{!}} Agrupamento de Escolas Sá de Miranda |url=https://www.aesamiranda.pt/escola-sa-de-miranda/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

In the late 2000s, the [[International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory]] also opened their international research centre in the city. Besides [[Research and development|scientific research and technological development]], this laboratory is a center of [[postgraduate education]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-15 |title=Instituto de Nanotecnologia em Braga cria 24 bolsas de doutoramento |url=https://ominho.pt/instituto-de-nanotecnologia-em-braga-cria-24-bolsas-de-doutoramento/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=O Minho |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

The [[Braga Pedagogical Farm]] is a [[farm]] dealing with [[animal]]s and [[agriculture]], welcoming extra-curricular activities from [[school]]s and visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viver {{!}} Ambiente {{!}} Quinta Pedagógica de Braga |url=https://www.cm-braga.pt/pt/0101/viver/ambiente/quinta-pedagogica-de-braga |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.cm-braga.pt |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Quinta Pedagógica – Quinta Pedagógica – Município de Braga |url=https://quintapedagogica.cm-braga.pt/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Estádio Municipal de Braga. (6067259738).jpg|thumb|[[Estádio Municipal de Braga]]]]
Braga's major [[sports club]], [[S.C. Braga|Sporting Clube de Braga]] (SC Braga), was founded in 1921 and its main men's football team play in the top division of Portuguese football, the [[Primeira Liga]], from [[Estádio Municipal de Braga|Braga Municipal Stadium]], carved out of the Monte Castro hill that overlooks the city. The success of SC Braga's football team in the first quarter of the 21st century, including participations in the [[UEFA Champions League]], winning the [[Taça de Portugal]] (Portuguese Cup) for the second time in 2016 and the third in 2021 and reaching the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League final]] in 2011, which they lost to fellow Portuguese side [[FC Porto]], improved it on the [[UEFA club rankings]] and Portugal's professional football landscape to such an extent that SC Braga started to be dubbed the fourth greatest football club in Portugal, only surpassed by the well-established classic [[Big Three (Portugal)|Big Three]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Aaron |date=2022-09-27 |title=Braga's Push to Break the Big Three Hegemony in Portugal |url=https://theanalyst.com/2022/09/braga-push-to-break-the-big-three-hegemony-in-portugal/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=The Analyst |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Braga, o quarto grande |url=https://www.jn.pt/arquivo/2005/braga-o-quarto-grande--510781.html/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Jornal de Notícias |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=O "quarto grande" que ainda quer ser maior |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/sp--braga/detalhe/o-quarto-grande-que-ainda-quer-ser-maior-858563 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=www.record.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Renascença |date=2015-09-16 |title=Braga com carimbo de quarto grande - Renascença |url=https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/fut-nacional/2015/09/16/braga-com-carimbo-de-quarto-grande/34260/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Rádio Renascença |language=pt-pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SAPO |title=António Salvador: "O Braga tem a ambição de ser campeão. Quando, não sabemos..." |url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/antonio-salvador-salienta-ambicao-do-sporting-de-braga-em-ser-campeao-nacional |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=SAPO Desporto |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Artur Jorge revela o que falta ao Sp. Braga para ser "um grande" |url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/sp-braga/taca-de-portugal/artur-jorge-revela-o-que-falta-ao-sp-braga-para-ser-um-grande |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Maisfutebol |language=pt}}</ref>

[[ABC Braga]], founded in 1933, is a decorated professional handball team which has won several major trophies in the sport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABC de Braga |url=https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/abc-de-braga/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

The Rampa da Falperra, established as such since 1950 but whose historical origins can be traced back to 1927, nowadays a round of the [[European Hillclimb Championship]], is held every year in the outskirts of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rampa da Falperra: A subida aos céus minhotos {{!}} AutoSport |url=https://www.autosport.pt/velocidade/cnm-montanha/rampa-da-falperra-a-subida-aos-ceus-minhotos/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.autosport.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

The [[Circuito Vasco Sameiro]] race track and the adjacent Kartódromo Internacional de Braga (KIB) kart racing track are located around the [[Braga Airport|local airfield]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dias |first=Miguel |date=2021-04-23 |title=Inédito troféu GT3 Cup arranca já este fim de semana em Braga |url=https://www.razaoautomovel.com/noticias/gt3-cup-arranca-este-fim-de-semana-em-braga/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Razão Automóvel |language=pt-PT}}</ref> The racing track held [[European Touring Car Cup]] events in 2009 and 2010, and the KIB has held rounds of the [[Karting World Championship]].

==Notable citizens==
[[File:Paulo Orosio - Detalle.jpg|thumb|140px|Paulo Orosio]]
[[File:Gomes da Costa.jpg|thumb|140px|Statue of Manuel Gomes da Costa in Braga]]

=== Public service ===
* [[Avitus of Braga]] (?- ca. 440 AD), produced a first person account of the miraculous finding of [[Saint Stephen|St. Stephen]]'s tomb.
* [[Saint Ovidius]] (martyred 135 AD) third Bishop of Braga, buried in the cathedral.
* Saint [[Engratia]] venerated as a virgin martyr and saint, tradition is that she was martyred with 18 companions in 303AD
* [[Paulus Orosius]] (ca.383{{snd}}ca.420), historian and [[theology|theologue]] from the Braga diocese
* [[Hermeric]] (died 441), landlord and then [[Kingdom of the Suebi|king of the Suebi]] with capital in Braga, from at least 419 and possibly as early as 406 until his abdication in 438.
* [[Martin of Braga]] (c. 520–580), Bishop of Braga in 562–579, converted the [[Suebi]] to Catholicism.
* [[Henry, Count of Portugal]] (1066–1112) [[County of Portugal|Count of Portugal]] 1093–1112, turned Braga into his capital 
*[[Teresa of León, Countess of Portugal]] (1080–1130) was married to Count Henry in 1094
* [[Antipope Gregory VIII]] (died 1137) born Mauritius Burdinus, the second [[Archbishop of Braga]]
* [[Paio Mendes|D. Paio Mendes]] (died 1137): he was the [[Archbishop of Braga]] from 1118 to 1137
* [[Pope John XXI]] (ca.1215–1277) born Pedro Julião, [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga|Archbishop of Braga]] 1272–1275, elected [[Pope]] in 1276.
* [[Francisco Sanches]] (ca.1550{{snd}}ca.1623) a [[Skepticism|skeptic]], philosopher and physician of [[Sephardi Jew]]ish origin
* [[Miguel de Carvalho]] (1579–1624), a Roman Catholic missionary, was [[History of the Catholic Church in Japan|burned at the stake in Japan]], beatified in 1867.
* [[Manuel António Martins]] (1772–1845) governor of [[Cape Verde]] and [[Portuguese Guinea]], 1833 to 1835
* [[João Crisóstomo de Amorim Pessoa]] (1810–1888) Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde|Santiago de Cabo Verde]] and archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman|Goa]] and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga|Braga]]
* [[Manuel Gomes da Costa]] (1863–1929) an [[army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] and politician, the [[List of Presidents of Portugal|tenth President of the Portuguese Republic]] and led the famous [[28 May 1926 coup d'état]] in Braga
* [[Domingos Leite Pereira]] (1882–1956), [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] politician of the [[Portuguese First Republic]]
* [[Salgado Zenha]] (1923–1993), a Portuguese left-wing politician and lawyer.
* [[Ricardo Rio]] (born 1972) an economist, politician and current mayor of Braga.

=== Arts & Science ===
[[File:Enginheiro Carlos Luiz Ferreira da Cruz Amarante.png|thumb|140px|Carlos Amarante]]
* [[Gabriel Pereira de Castro]] (1571-1632) a priest, lawyer and poet.
* [[João Antunes]] (1642–1712), an important architect credited for introducing [[baroque architecture]]
* [[André Soares (architect)|André Soares]] (1720–1769) architect of several important [[Rococo]] buildings in Braga area.
* [[Carlos Amarante]] (1748–1815) an architect who favoured [[neoclassical architecture]]
* [[Adriano de Paiva]] (1847–1907) a scientist and pioneer of the [[telectroscope]].
* Albano Ribeiro Belino (1863-1906) a journalist and archaeologist who studied the Roman and pre-historic ruins in Braga.
* [[Elísio de Moura]] (1877–1977) a physician, professor and leading psychiatrist
* [[Lúcio Alberto Pinheiro dos Santos]] (1889-1950) philosopher, coined the term [[rhythmanalysis]]
* [[Luís de Almeida Braga]] (1890–1970) a Portuguese writer and politician, in the [[Integralismo Lusitano]] movement.
* [[António Variações]] (1944–1984), innovative pop composer and singer
* [[Torcato Sepulveda]] (1951–2008), an influential Portuguese newspaper journalist.
* [[Sara Braga Simões]] (born 1975) an operatic soprano

=== Sport ===
[[File:2008 Emanuel Silva.JPG|thumb|140px|Emanuel Silva, 2008]]
* [[Carlos Carvalhal]] (1965) a former footballer with 259 club caps and manager of S.C. Braga.
* [[Litos (footballer, born January 1974)|Litos]] (born 1974) a former footballer with 433 club caps
* [[Henrique (footballer, born 1980)|Henrique]] (born 1980) a former footballer with 451 club caps
* [[Pedro Pereira (footballer, born 1984)|Pedro Pereira]] (born 1984) a former footballer with over 460 club caps
* [[Emanuel Silva]] (born 1985) a sprint canoeist and silver medallist at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Carole Costa]] (born 1990) a footballer with 133 caps for the [[Portugal women's national football team|Portuguese female national football team]] 
* [[Júlio Ferreira]] (born 1994) a taekwondo practitioner 
* [[Diogo Dalot]] (born 1999) a footballer with [[Manchester United F.C.]] and 6 caps for [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
* [[Francisco Macedo (racing driver)|Francisco Macedo]] (born 2008) a racing driver

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal}}

Braga is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Geminações|url=https://www.cm-braga.pt/pt/0104/municipio/cooperacao-institucional/geminacoes|website=cm-braga.pt|publisher=Braga|language=pt|access-date=2019-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314055911/http://www.cm-braga.pt/pt/0104/municipio/cooperacao-institucional/geminacoes|archive-date=14 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|GNB}} [[Bissorã]], Guinea Bissau
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Clermont-Ferrand]], France
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Cluj-Napoca]], Romania
*{{flagicon|ECU}} [[Cuenca, Ecuador|Cuenca]], Ecuador
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Ivano-Frankivsk]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Poggibonsi]], Italy
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Puteaux]], France
*{{flagicon|CPV}} [[Ribeira Brava, Cape Verde (municipality)|Ribeira Brava]], Cape Verde
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Santa Fe, Argentina|Santa Fe]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|CPV}} [[Tarrafal de São Nicolau (municipality)|Tarrafal de São Nicolau]], Cape Verde
{{div col end}}

== See also ==

*[[Organ Festival of Braga]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Braga#Bibliography}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Braga |volume= 4 | pages = 375&ndash;376 |short= 1}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Braga}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061213204332/http://www.braga.com.pt/ Braga Portal]
* [http://www.bragavirtual.com/index.php?lang=en Virtual Braga]

{{Braga}}
{{Municipalities of Braga}}
{{European Youth Capital}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Braga| ]]
[[Category:Minho]]
[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Portugal]]