Cathedral of Braga

The Cathedral of Braga, the oldest archdiocese in Portugal , was built in the 12th century by order of D. Henrique and his wife D. Teresa, whose tombs are in the cloister, and rivaled the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

The cathedral shows artistic features of the different centuries that it has endured. Of the original Romanesque style , only the Porta do Sol gate, the plan with chancel, the main gate and the apse of the cloister of Santo Amaro remain. The architects were the prelates of the monasteries of Cluny (France), São Giraldo and Maurício Brudino. In the 15th century, it was the Gothic style that was imposed in the form of the construction of a porch to the temple.

Inside we find the tomb in Gothic-Flemish style of the son of the king D. João I, Infante D. Afonso. During the reign of D. Manuel, in the following century, new decorative elements were added to the interior, such as the baptismal font, and outside the main chapel, a niche with the statue of Nossa Senhora do Leite attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne, with the coat of arms of the city.

The Baroque style has also left its mark, especially in the decoration of the altars , the gilded wood carvings , the grandiose organ of the main chapel and in two curious bell towers, which embellish the external facade.

It is believed that Braga Cathedral was built on the foundations of an ancient Roman market or temple dedicated to Isis , as on one of the external walls there is a votive stone with that mention.

Willem Vandenameele