Visit the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte - Tenões (Braga)

The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, located in the parish of Tenões, is dedicated to Senhor Bom Jesus and is constituted by an architectural-landscaped set composed by a church, the staircase where the Via Sacra do Bom Jesus is developed, a garden area Bom Jesus, some hotels and a funicular.

His peculiar disposition was the inspiration for other constructions, such as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies in Lamego and the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in the city of Congonhas in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

It is classified as Property of Public Interest.

It is believed that the primitive occupation of this site dates back to the beginning of the 14th century when someone will have erected a cross on the top of Mount Espinho. In the year 1373 a hermitage is already mentioned in the place, under the invocation of the Holy Cross. This hermitage will have been attached to the parish of Tenões.

Local of devotion and pilgrimage of the people of the region of Braga, in 1494 was erguida a second hermitage. A third hermitage was erected in 1522.

In 1629 a group of devotees constituted the Confraternity of Bom Jesus do Monte, being built a chapel where was placed an image of Christ Crucified, besides houses for shelter of the pilgrims, and the first chapels of Passos of the Passion, in the form of small niches.

From 1722, the then Archbishop of Braga, D. Rodrigo de Moura Teles, conceived and initiated a great project that would lead to the present Sanctuary.

This church was designed by the architect Carlos Amarante, by order of the then Archbishop of Braga, D. Gaspar de Bragança, to replace the previous one, erected by D. Rodrigo de Moura Teles. His works began on June 1, 1784, and were completed in 1811.

The churchyard, also designed by Amarante, features eight statues representing characters who intervened in the condemnation, passion and death of Christ.

The church has a plant in the shape of a Latin cross, constituting one of the first neoclassical buildings in the country. Its façade is flanked by two towers, surmounted by a triangular pediment.

Visit the Church of Pópulo - Sé (Braga)

The Church of Pópulo is located in the parish of Sé. The invocation comes from the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome and the image-icon that is venerated there. The temple was begun in 1596 by initiative of the then archbishop of Braga, D. Frei Agostinho de Jesus. The construction of the whole ensemble dragged from the sixteenth century to the nineteenth century.

Great part of the building) was reconstructed at the end of century XVIII with project of author Carlos Amarante.

Currently, the premises of the convent are one of the buildings of the Municipality of Braga. Guided tours are promoted, especially for appreciation of tile flooring.

Visit the Church of São Vicente (Braga)

The Church of São Vicente, located in the parish of São Vicente, was rebuilt in the mid-sixteenth century from a primitive temple.

Its bell tower, located behind the main chapel (the typical architecture of the Baroque Bracarense), was the tallest building in the city, and therefore suffered electric lightning strikes. Twice the tower had to be rebuilt, the last time in 1812.

It's a baroque church. The façade has Mannerist elements. Above the frontage it has the image of the patron saint, S. Vicente, nestled in a niche.

To crown the façade is a papal cross that recalls the privileges and indulgences that Pope Clement VIII granted to this church around the year 1598 in the time of Archbishop Augustine de Jesus.

Inside, the choir, attributed to Carlos Amarante, the organ, built by the master organist Francisco António Solha in 1769, is the highlight of the tile panels, dated 1873, produced by the Devesas Ceramic Factory.

This Church is classified as Property of Public Interest.

Visit the Church of São Marcos - São Lázaro (Braga)

The Church of San Marcos, located in the parish of São Lázaro, dates back to the 16th century. XVIII and was built according to the Carlos Amarante project.

The church has a Baroque style, and in its exterior decoration stand the statues of life-size apostles that mark the rhythm of the upper balustrade. In the middle of the church façade, in a niche, we can see the image of Saint Mark.

D. Diogo de Sousa is buried in the main chapel of the Church, in a tomb of white jasper worked in mosaic.