Arch of Porta Nova - Braga

The Arch of the New Gate (Portuguese: Arco da Porta Nova) is a Baroque and Neoclassical arch designed by André Soares at the end of the 18th century .

The triumphal arch, which adorns the western entrance to the medieval city wall , was opened in 1512 and was traditionally used to hand over the keys to the city to dignitaries and celebrities.

It was King Ferdinand who finally completed the city walls of Braga around 1373, a project that had begun during the reign of his predecessor King Denis, a project that called for a Torre da Porta Nova (Tower of the New City Gate).

Around 1505, and continuing until 1532, Archbishop Diogo de Sousa had people work on the construction of the Porta Nova (New Gate). This construction project included a phase of rebuilding the tower, around 1512.

Sometime in the 17th century, Archbishop José de Bragança ordered the rebuilding of the Porta Nova, expanding its rococo decoration. As part of the construction (1772-1773) , a statue representing the city of Braga was removed from the Edifício das Arcadas and placed on the arch of the new gate (around 1772). The following year, the Archbishop (Gaspar de Bragança) ordered the conversion of the tower of the Porta Nova into a triumphal arch in baroque style.

The arch has a double decorative composition on both facades, a baroque western facade and an emerging neoclassical eastern facade, which emphasizes the many faces of the designer André Soares. The western facade, with the interrupted round-arched facade, is a baroque arch flanked by four pilasters and crowned by plinths with pyramidal pinnacles. The interrupted round-arched facade is decorated with the coat of arms of Archbishop Gaspar of Braganza, above which stands the allegorical figure of the city of Braga. The eastern facade, with only two pilasters in relief, is crowned by a statue of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré (Our Lady of Nazareth) in a recessed niche.

Willem Vandenameele