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BRAGA - PORTUGAL
Braga is a city in northwestern Portugal, in the province of Minho, and
capital of Braga district is the fourth city of Continental Portugal
with a population of 140,000 . Under the Roman Empire, it was capital of
the province Calaecia, and its name was Bracara Augusta.
The Braga district includes other cities like Guimarães, Vila Nova de
Famalicão, Barcelos and some others .
The Braga city has a very nice roman-style center, with many churches.
Also, in a little mountain near the city, there are two religious
places: Bom Jesus do Monte and Sameiro. A modern symbol of the city is
the new Braga Municipal Stadium, carved out of the Monte Castro hill
that overlooks the city.
The major industries in the city of Braga are construction industry,
methalomecanics industry and software industry.
The most important University in Braga (and in the Minho Region) is the
Universidade do Minho founded in 1973.
Braga is the see of the archbishopric. Braga was the center from which
Galicia was Christianized, though the early bishops connected with Saint
James the Great are purely legendary. A more historical bishop was
Paternus , bishop of the see about 390. After the destruction of Astorga
by the Visigoths (433), the see was removed to Braga, where it remained
until the Moors conquered the region. Martin, abbot of Dumio and bishop
of Braga (died in 580), born in Pannonia was the foremost Iberian
scholar of his time, according to Gregory of Tours (Hist. Francorum V,
xxxvii) Isidore of Seville ("De Viris illustribus", c. xxxv) says that
Martin converted the Suevi Arianism, instilled Catholic discipline and
founded monasteries.
When Afonso I, count of Portugal, declared his majority and his
independence from Leon he was countered by his mother and the bishop of
Braga. separated from Spain, the Bishop of Braga was assumed even
greater importance. Though at a later date the papacy decided in favor
of Toledo for primacy among Iberian bishops, there have been many very
famous bishops and writers in the diocese of braga .
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