Braga Tour—Medieval Castles and Three Virtues in a Day—May 25, 2024

While in Porto, I took an all day tour to Braga, which included visits to Guimarães and Bom Jesus do Monte for €89.

First stop was in Guimarães known as the birthplace of Portugal and the first independent king of Portugal, King Afonso Henriques, born 1110. It was here he began his reconquest over the Moors.

We first visited the castle and then worked our way down into town and stopped in this plaza.

Along the way I spotted the Camino Santiago logo on the sidewalk paving stones. These logos mark the inland Portuguese Camino route to Santiago de La Compostela. 

The center of the old town was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001.

We stopped for a break with a view of the church below, and it’s beautiful gardens leading to the church. I went to the church I could not get in because they were currently holding a wedding.

We then continued on a short distance to Braga.  we first stopped for lunch before proceeding to the cathedral. Most of the wait staff at the restaurants wore Roman costumes as an homage to Braga’s Roman past beginning in the first century BC.

This city and area was overcome by the Suvei around 410 AD, and then sacked by the Visigoths 60 years later. In the sixth century, the Visigoths converted to Christianity. Then the Moors took over in 715 AD. By the 12th century Portugal became free from the Moors,

After lunch, our guide, Jose, got us into the cathedral where a wedding was going on by having the church officials take us up to the balcony.  From there, we saw the wedding couple and the church filled with their friends and relatives observe their exchange of vows.  It was wonderful as their friends and relatives cheered as the ceremony ended.

Jose took us by several plazas, gardens, and walking streets on our way back to the bus.

We made our last stop at the Bom Jesus do Monte which was a sacred hill where. the sanctuary was located.

The stairway symbolizes Jesus suffering leading up to the crucifixion which is depicted in the 573 steps of this Baroque and Rocco staircase. 

Along the way, there are several fountains that highlight the five senses, and the three virtues of Christianity— Love, Hope and Charity.

For those that want to spare their knees, there’s the oldest hydraulically run funicular that runs the length of the steps.

Upon our return to Porto by the train station, these students were just finishing up performing in their student gowns.  Throughout Porto, I saw similar groups of women students also performing in their student gowns.