Impressions of Bragança, Portugal

Bragança preserves a unique heritage in a compact and well-preserved historic center that is easy to walk around. The worn stones bear witness to a troubled history, dating back to the Bronze Age, with the presence of Romans, Suevi and Visigoths, continuing battles that helped establish the border lines and the strategic importance of the town.

The 14th-century keep stands out in one of the most harmonious and well-preserved castles in the country, which houses a monumental ensemble worthy of note for its originality. This is the case of the enigmatic Domus Municipalis, a building that dates back to the 13th century and is believed to have served as both a cistern and a meeting place for the “good men” of the municipality. Next to it stands the elegant Church of Santa Maria, whose Baroque altarpiece façade translates the gilded carving of the altars into granite. Forming a unique union between very different eras, the medieval pillory is inlaid with a berrão, a zoomorphic statue that originated in the Castro peoples of proto-history.

Beyond the walls, the cobbled streets lead the traveler through a rosary of temples, including the Convent of S. Francisco, the churches of S. Vicente and Misericórdia, and the Cathedral, with its Renaissance cloister and sacristy, which are well worth a visit. The same route is lined with magnificent manor houses, built between the 16th and 17th centuries, which today house public institutions.