Category: Religious Architecture > Cathedral
District: Braga > Braga > Braga > Sé
Braga Cathedral rises majestically in the city's historic center, in the area that gave it its name: Sé. Its position is an undeniable landmark in Braga's urban fabric, serving as a reference point that guides visitors through the surrounding streets and squares, attesting to its importance and antiquity in the Braga landscape.
Braga Cathedral is a monument that tells centuries of history, its origins linked to the dawn of Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed that this site was founded by Saint James the Greater, with Saint Peter of Rates as its first bishop, which confers upon it a unique status of religious primacy. Long before the foundation of Portugal, Braga Cathedral was already a vital episcopal center, built upon the remains of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Isis, as attested by a still-visible votive stone.
Over the centuries, the building has been continuously transformed. Its restoration began in the 11th century, under the patronage of Bishop D. Pedro, and with more substantial works in the 12th century, the Cathedral underwent alterations and additions that reflect different eras. It is a true compendium of Portuguese art since the beginning of nationhood, having been classified as a National Monument since 1910.
Visiting Braga Cathedral is like observing an architectural "palimpsest," where the traces of time overlap and blend harmoniously. The original Romanesque core, with its robust walls and carved capitals, is evident in various parts of the structure, particularly in the main and south lateral portals, known as the Porta do Sol (Sun Gate). Over the centuries, Gothic elements were added, such as the impressive Galilee and the chancel vault, the latter, a work by João de Castilho, being the first star-ribbed vault built in Portugal. Later, in the 17th century, the facade gained a Baroque appearance, with the addition of the dome, which illuminates the transept. This fusion of styles gives the Cathedral a visually rich character and a unique architectural narrative.
Inside the Cathedral, the richness and diversity of artistic and historical elements are remarkable. Standing out are the two imposing pipe organs, 18th-century works by Simão Fontanes, richly decorated with gilded carving, whose sounds echo through the nave. The Cathedral also houses the tombs of highly relevant historical figures, such as those of D. Henrique of Burgundy and D. Teresa of León, the parents of D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, buried in the Chapel of the Kings. Other chapels hold the tombs of notable archbishops, such as D. Diogo de Sousa and D. Gonçalo Pereira, the latter in a Gothic tomb that evokes that of Queen Saint Isabel in Coimbra. The space also hosts a remarkable collection of sacred relics, among which is a piece of a mantle of the Virgin Mary.
The Cathedral complex also includes spaces for contemplation and recollection, such as its cloisters. The main cloister, built in the 19th century, replaced an earlier Gothic-style one. In it, one finds the tomb of Sister Maria Estrela Divina, a figure of great popular devotion. There is also an older cloister, the Cloister of the Kings, which, according to an ancient tradition, serves as a resting place for the Suevic kings, connecting the present to a distant and legendary past.
The grandeur of Braga Cathedral is manifested not only in its architecture but also in its carillon. The first carillon was installed in the 17th century, and over the years, the archbishops of Braga added new bells, making it one of the largest in the country. The sound of its bells marks the rhythm of life in the city, and many of the ancient pieces, witnesses to its rich sonic history, can be appreciated in the Cathedral's Treasury Museum.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.549970855783364, -8.427347745148944
Coordinates DMS: 41°32'59.9"N 08°25'38.5"W
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