Braga

City: Braga

Country: Portugal

    Address: Câmara Municipal Braga Praça do Município, 4730-749 Braga PORTUGAL

Official page: cm-braga.pt

Cooperation agreement: 07.05.2017

    Braga is a commune in the Braga district in northern Portugal and is the administrative center of the district. It is located in the northern part of the country, in the historic Portuguese province of Douro Minho. The city is located in the valley of the river Ashti in a picturesque area surrounded by hills and forests. Braga has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters, as well as frequent westerly winds. Located 321 km north of Lisbon and 50 km from Porto.

    Population - more than 190 thousand people. The area is 183.51 km. Currency - euro. The language is Portuguese. Visa - Schengen. Time-UTC 0, summer + 1. Patron - St. Herald. The holiday of the municipality is June 24.     

    Braga is the oldest city in the country. The settlement on the site of modern Braga was founded in the Iron Age. In 5-3 centuries BC tribes of brakarov (Celts) settled here. In 20 BC the Roman city of Bracar Augustus was built on the site of an ancient Celtic settlement. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Braga became the capital of the Svevi kingdom. Later, the city belonged to the Visigoths for three centuries.

     The center of the Archdiocese of Brazil, which played a leading role in the Christianization of the Iberian Peninsula. The first bishopric here was founded in the early 5th century. In 715 Braga was conquered by the Moors. Although the city was under Arab influence for a very short time - in 868 it was liberated during the Reconquista. During the Reconquista Braga was one of the main centers of Christianity in Iberia. It became part of the Portuguese county (1096), later - the kingdom. The decoration of the city is the Braz Cathedral. The third-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon and Porto. Later, the prosperity of the city was associated with the episcopate, which was reflected in numerous examples of sacred architecture.

    It is the capital of the province of Minho. Braga is one of the most tourist-attractive cities in Portugal, with a huge number of architectural and cultural monuments. There are more than a dozen churches in the city, so Braga is very popular among pilgrims and history buffs. The old town of Braga is famous for its scattering of magnificent Gothic and Baroque churches, as well as ancient mansions of the 18th century. But the city offers many more attractions than just endless ancient temples. The historic center of Braga is almost entirely pedestrian and consists of charming squares, beautiful old streets and picturesque gardens.

    Braga is famous for its many inexpensive restaurants. Most of them are located in the eastern part of the city near the university.   

    The easiest way to get to Braga is to use Porto Airport. The city also has regular rail links with Lisbon and Porto. There is a large Ukrainian diaspora in the city. In 2012, the Ukrainian Cyril and Methodius School were opened, founded by the Orthodox community in honor of All Saints of the Ukrainian land. In 2016, a monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred was unveiled in the city.