Braga Cathedral

About this place

Braga's cathedral reflects the city's long importance as a religious centre. Its buildings and decoration developed over successive periods rather than following a single design. Look for the differences between older structural elements and later embellishments as evidence of the institution's continuing influence. As the seat of an archbishop, the cathedral served a wider territory as well as the city itself. This helps explain the sustained attention given to its architecture and artworks. Viewing the monument as the centre of a regional institution adds meaning to the layers of construction and decoration encountered during a visit.