Braga History and Highlights: Full Day from Porto

Welcome to Braga, the oldest Portuguese city. Bracara Augusta was founded by Roman emperor Augustus, in the year 16-15 BC, center of a territory between rivers Neiva and Ave, controlled by an indigenous people named the bracari (celtic). Following the Vitruvian typical orthogonal plan, created in a magical and religious way, refounded after a ray has fallen(we'll see inscription), no less than six roman viae interconnected the Roman state and Bracara Augusta, bearing the ancient Latin civilization to the capital of the new-founded province of Gallaecia. Successively taken by the Suevi (5th century) and the Visigoths (585), Braga was the Suevi Kingdom's capital. From mid 11th to mid 12thcentury, Braga was the major city in the north of Portugal. Its large cathedral (1089) was in accordance with the town's size and importance. Braga, renowned as "the capital of the Baroque" is famous for its baroque period artwork. Today a vibrant city, with an important university, awarded as a Sustainable Green Destination.