Bragança

Bragança is the capital of the province of Trás-os-Montes that, as its name suggests, lies quite isolated in the mountainous area, being Portugal's poorest and least known region. Unexplored by tourism, it offers a wild and beautiful landscape, cities and towns full of historic associations, rich regional food and a lifestyle still marked by traditions.

The region's harsh climate, poor development and remoteness have led to the emigration of a considerable part of the population. Nevertheless, the small isolated stone villages and long stretches of Moor land have a rough beauty of their own.
Bragança, with its walled citadel on a hilltop, lies on the edge of the Montesinho Natural Park, one of the wildest areas in Europe, with its mountains, oak forests and rare species like wolves, boars and golden eagles, as well as medieval looking villages.
Cities like Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro, Torre de Moncorvo and Freixo de Espada à Cinta also breathe this quiet atmosphere of having stopped in time.

The area is specially beautiful in Spring, when a white mantle of almond blossom covers the valleys.
Mirandela is known for its cured meats and sausages, but throughout the region you can find typical recipes, based mainly on pork.
The centuries-old Ash Wednesday celebration attracts many tourists each year.

Montesinhos’s Natural Park (Bragança)
This park is one of the biggest Portuguese protected areas, stretching itself through 75.000 hectares. The great diversity, both in fauna and flora, is connected with the rich socio-cultural patrimony, where daily live is still taken under old traditions.

Citadel (Bragança)
This fortified nucleus was built on the 12th century and it was property of the Benedictine monks of the Castro de Avelã Monastery. This fortress, rebuilt and reinforced by late 14th century, has a lot to show and its main highlights are its keep, the Princess Tower, the Dómus Municipalis, the Santa Maria church and the pillory.

See Cathedral (Bragança)
The See Cathedral of Bragança is an obligatory visit. Built on the 16th century, was occupied by Jesuit priests, that there installed a college. After the Jesuits were expelled, the See went back to the Crown and it was later transferred to Bragança.

Abade de Baçal Museum (Bragança)
This museum is located between the Citadel and the Cathedral, on Abílio Beça Street. From the exposed pieces, the collection of religious art and the watercolour paintings of Alberto Souza are to point out. The Abade de Baçal Museum is opened from Tuesday to Friday, from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., and on weekends between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.. To see the collections you have to pay a fee of 250$00, except on Sundays when it’s free.