The compact historic centre borders Praça da República , the
central square. Within the square stands the 14th-century Torre
de Menagem , all that remains of the city’s original fortifications.
A short walk leads to Rua do Souto, a narrow pedestrian street lined with
elegant shops and cafés, including the Café Brasileira ,
furnished in 19th-century salon style. Towards the end of the road stands
the impressive Sé , the cathedral of Braga. Other churches
worth a visit include the small, 16th-century Capela dos
Coimbras , and the 17th-century Baroque Santa
Cruz . Many of the finest mansions in Braga also date from the Baroque
period, such as the Palácio do Raio  and the Câmara Municipal  (the town hall). Both buildings are attributed to
the 18th-century architect André Soares da Silva.

Braga’s cathedral was begun in the 11th century, when Henry of Burgundy
decided to build on the site of an older church, destroyed in the 6th
century. Since then the building has seen many changes, including the
addition of a graceful galilee (porch) in the late 15th century. Outstanding
features include the chapel to the right, just inside the west door, housing
the ornate 15th-century tomb of the first-born son of João I, Dom Afonso,
who died as a child. Also of interest are the upper choir, with its carved
wooden stalls, and the ornate, gilded, Baroque organ cases. The cathedral
also houses the Treasury or Museu de Arte Sacra , which
contains a rich collection of ecclesiastical treasures as well as, statues,
carvings and azulejo  tiles.

Several chapels can be seen in the courtyard and cloister. The Capela dos
Reis houses the tombs of the founders, Henry of Burgundy and his wife Dona
Teresa, as well as the preserved body of the 14th-century archbishop Dom
Lourenço Vicente.

From Rua de São João you can admire a statue of Nossa Senhora do Leite (Our
Lady of the Milk), symbol of the city of Braga, sheltered under an ornate
Gothic canopy.

Near the Sé is the former archbishops’ palace. The façades date from the
14th, 17th and 18th centuries, but a major fire destroyed the interior in
the 18th century. The palace is now used as a library and archives. Beside
it are the immaculate gardens of the Jardim de Santa Bárbara.

To the west of the city centre is the Palácio dos Biscainhos. Built in the
16th century and modified over the centuries, this imposing aristocratic
mansion now houses the city’s Museu Etnográfico e Artístico (Ethnography and
Arts Museum) with displays of foreign and Portuguese furniture. An unusual
detail is the ribbed, paved ground floor, designed to allow carriages inside
the building to deposit guests and drive on to the stables beyond.