Portugal, Braga

Braga a city and municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the district of Braga, the oldest archdiocese and one of the major cities of the country. With a population of 128,138 in the city proper, Braga is the fifth largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon (Lisboa), Porto (Oporto), Amadora and Vila Nova de Gaia.

Braga is the center of Greater Metropolitan Area of Minho, after the much larger Lisbon Metropolitan Area and Porto Metropolitan Area conurbations.

Braga is serviced by regional and fast trains to Porto and Lisbon. The city of Oporto(Porto) is about 53 km.

History

The region of Braga has been inhabited since pre-historic times, and in the Iron Age the Bracari people occupied the region and built their characteristic fortified villages (castrum). It was the capital of the Callaici Bracarii, or Bracarenses, a tribe who occupied what is now Galicia and northern Portugal.

The history of Braga during Visigothic and Arab times is very obscure and represent periods of decadence for the city. From the Moors, who captured Braga early in the 8th century, the city was retaken in 1040 by king Ferdinand I of Castile and Leon.

In the 16th century, Braga did not profit from the Age of Portuguese Discoveries, that favoured cities like Lisbon, Évora and Coimbra. This situation was changed by Archbishop Diogo de Sousa, who sponsored several urban improvements in the city, including the enlargement of streets, the creation of public squares and the foundation of hospitals and new churches.

The 19th century was a difficult period for the city and the country, which had been invaded by Napoleonic troops. In the second half of that century, the influence of Portuguese immigrants who had lived in Brazil introduced new tastes and improvements in the city architecture and infrastructure.

In the 20th century Braga faced great demographic and urbanistic pressures, and the infrastructure of the city had to be greatly improved to meet the new needs.

Commerce, business and transportation

The major industries in the municipality are construction, metallurgy and mechanics, software development and web design. The computer industry is growing rapidly.

The most important University in Braga (and in the Minho Region) is the Universidade do Minho founded in 1973. In the city was established also, in 1967, the most important private university of Portugal, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

Sports

Braga's football (soccer) team, SC Braga plays in the top division of the Portuguese Superliga.