Portugal’s Birthplace and Sacred Stairs – Braga and Guimarãesa
We woke to another partly sunny day in Portugal and drove about 45 minutes north from Porto to the city of Braga. The car ride was very quiet. Everyone was still tired from the previous night’s adventures. Our friends Krystal and Titus were with us, and Krystal had an unexpected start to her morning when our enthusiastic server at breakfast insisted she try port wine. Not exactly a typical breakfast drink, but when in Portugal…
A Hilltop Sanctuary
We arrived at Bom Jesus do Monte, which means Good Jesus of the Mount. This important religious pilgrimage site for Catholics was started in the 1700s and became a minor basilica in 2015 when Pope Francis designated it as such.
Whether or not you’re interested in the religious aspects of sites like this, they’re worth visiting for the incredible views alone. These pilgrimage places tend to sit on top of hills or mountains, and Bom Jesus is no exception. The view of Braga from up here is incredible and gorgeous. Perfect clouds hung around in the valley, creating a stunning backdrop for our visit.
We were all very excited to discover we could actually drive to the top of the church rather than climbing the 500 steps up. Our legs were already tired from days of walking through Portugal, so this definitely saved us some effort. Plus, we had more to see that day.
Mass was happening in Korean when we arrived, which was actually really cool to hear. We waited until it finished before exploring the church interior. The property has two hotels, including one near the main entrance, though unfortunately neither is a Marriott property.
The altar inside the cathedral is very unique. It’s basically a 3D depiction of the crucifixion, really cool and unlike anything we’d seen before. Outside in the manicured garden area, we found a beautiful fountain with what might have been turtles. We weren’t sure if they were real or not, and frankly, one of us didn’t want to get close enough to find out.
Bom Jesus do Monte is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which makes it especially appealing if you’re determined to visit all of them in the world. This was probably our third or fourth UNESCO site on this Portugal trip alone.
The grounds are expansive, much more than you’d expect. Like so many places in Portugal, nothing is what it seems at first glance. It’s not just one site to see, but an entire area with extensive walking paths and gardens. You really need to give yourself 2-3 hours to properly view a monastery or church complex like this.
Before leaving, we wanted to see the impressive staircase that leads up to the sanctuary. The architecture and design are really cool, but we were glad we drove instead of climbing. If you’re visiting this area, definitely keep driving to the parking lot at the top for just one euro. You can avoid all those stairs and still get beautiful views by driving down partway for photos.
We made it down the hill from the church and grabbed a quick, light lunch and our last stop in Braga, which was the palace. The outside is probably more impressive than the inside in our opinion, though the staircase looked pretty cool. They didn’t allow photography inside, but entry was only 3 euros. It feels like a museum, so if you’re into that sort of thing, it’s worth a quick visit.
We didn’t have much time to linger because we were headed to our next destination: Guimarães. Our lovely breakfast host Isabella had told us how to pronounce it correctly that morning, but we’d all forgotten by this point.
The Birthplace of Portugal
The 25-minute drive from Braga to Guimarães gave us plenty of time to practice saying the city’s name.
When the castle came into view, we were all impressed. Very impressive and very pretty. We headed inside to explore.
The interior of the castle is fairly bare ruins, which is typical for a fortress this old. It was built around the 10th century to defend the monastery from the Moors and the Norsemen. Entry was only 5 euros, which felt reasonable for what you get to see.
Right next door to the castle sits the Palace of the Dukes. The tickets aren’t combined unless you buy them together at the start, which we didn’t know. You can get both for 8 euros total if you plan ahead. We had a limited amount of time before the palace closed, so we rushed over.
Filming wasn’t allowed inside the palace, though photos without flash were permitted. The Palace of the Dukes was built in the early 1400s to house the illegitimate son of a Portuguese king named John. It’s really unique with a chapel featuring pretty stained glass and very unique pews you can still sit in today.
The palace has 39 fireplaces throughout, evidenced by the 39 smoke stacks on the roof. For five euros, this is definitely a must-see in Guimarães.
Old Town Guimarães
Our last stop was the old town, which turned out to be pretty cool. Beautiful little streets, all pedestrianized, made for easy walking. We didn’t have to worry about dodging cars, and the streets weren’t entirely cobblestone, which was easier on our feet after five days of walking through Portugal.
The old buildings are really cool and create a wonderfully medieval atmosphere. Guimarães is actually known as the birthplace of all of Portugal, which makes it a historically significant destination.
Both Braga and Guimarães are definite must-sees if you’re in the Porto area. You could make a day trip like we did or even stay overnight since there are quite a few hotels in the area. It’s a beautiful region to explore.
Guimarães feels much more medieval than other Portuguese cities we visited. The architecture and overall atmosphere transport you back in time. The old town center has lots of really good restaurants, which was something we hadn’t seen in such concentration in other places.
These two cities deserve a spot on your Portugal bucket list. They offer a different perspective on Portuguese history and culture, from sacred hilltop sanctuaries to the very foundations of the Portuguese nation itself.
Want to see the stunning staircase at Bom Jesus do Monte and explore medieval Guimarães Castle? Watch our Braga and Guimarães adventure on YouTube:
