Garden of Santa Bárbara - Braga

Jardim de Santa Bárbara is one of the most beautiful gardens in Braga . It balances the rules of geometry with the randomness of the colours that come from the flowers, vegetation and birds.

The fact that it is located in the city center and interrupts the succession of concrete and brick buildings makes it a special place. It is a kind of refuge or oasis in the city that invites you to take a break, read a good book or share a meal with friends.

At the bottom of the garden , a high stone wall with battlements is reminiscent of a castle . This facade is part of the medieval palace of Braga and was built at the end of the Middle Ages on the initiative of archbishops Gonçalo de Pereira and Fernando da Guerra. It currently serves as the district archive of Braga and is part of a larger complex called the Episcopal Palace of Braga .

But the Santa Bárbara Garden is not only beautiful, it also has a mystical side .

On one side, in the middle of the garden, you will find a 17th century fountain that originally stood in the old Convento dos Remédios (where you can now see the Theatro Circo). On top of the fountain is an image of Saint Barbara, born in Turkey and the protagonist of a tragic story.

According to Catholic tradition , Saint Barbara was punished by her own father , who did not like his daughter's Christian faith. After torturing her in an attempt to convert her, he beheaded her with his own hands.

Another curious aspect is that this garden is chosen by many of Braga's teenagers to declare their vows of love.

Willem Vandenameele