What to see in the Medieval City of Braganza in one day
Called Bragança in Portuguese, this beautiful city dominated by its great castle is located in the north of Portugal, very close to the border with Spain and Puebla de Sanabria.
It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the north of the Portuguese country. It is worth making a detour to this city to get to know it and enjoy its monuments and its history.
The main monument of Braganza is its Castle, which is located in the highest part of the city, so from there you can have wonderful views of the surroundings.
The main places to see in Bragança
The Castle of Braganza
The Castle of Braganza was built in the 12th century and stands out for its robust Torre del Homenaje.
To this tower, which is 33 meters high, it is possible to climb by means of quite a few stairs.
It is worth visiting and walking around its walls and battlements as well as seeing its small Military Museum.
You should not miss the contrast of the sobriety of the fortress with its Gothic windows. The price of admission is only €2 and it opens every day except Mondays.
The Citadel
Surrounding the Castle we can enjoy the Citadel, the old walled city where you can enjoy medieval architecture walking through its cobbled streets.
In these streets you can enjoy craft and souvenir shops and eat some of the delicacies served in this area of Portugal in one of its restaurants.
The Municipal House
It is one of the most representative buildings in Braganza and it can be said that it is unique in the Iberian Peninsula.
Its origin is enigmatic, although it is considered that it was the first Town Hall in Portugal.
It has a pentagonal plan and has two very different parts.
One of them is the “cistern”, used for collecting water, and the other, located above the cistern, is the “Casa de la Cámara”, a room surrounded by windows and with a bench around it that must have been used for meetings of the medieval council.
The Church of Santa María and the Church of the Sé
There are several churches that deserve our attention in Braganza.
One of them is the Church of Santa María, located next to the Castle and the Domus Municipalis and which stands out for its beautiful doorway flanked by pretty columns.
It is of Romanesque origin although it was remodeled in the 18th century and stands out for its paintings on the ceiling.
Another of the main churches of the city is located outside the medieval area and it is the Iglesia de la Sé, a former Jesuit convent and which is the old Cathedral (the new one is a very modern church located on the outskirts).
The Church of Saint Vincent
Also of note is the Church of San Vicente, also of Romanesque origin although rebuilt in the 18th century and whose main interest is that it was the place where Inés de Castro and Pedro I of Portugal got married.
In case you don’t know his story, Pedro was the son of King Alfonso IV who did not accept his son’s love so he had her assassinated.
When Pedro inherited the throne, he ordered the body of his beloved to be dressed in the best royal clothes and put on the crown so that the Portuguese people would pay homage to her, after which she was buried again.
You can find more information about what to see in Braganza on the official tourism page.
