Somethings old and something high in Northern Portugal

Eight days in Porto allows us plenty of time for some out-of-town excursions. After taking a few days off from driving, we hop in the car and head north to see what Northern Portugal offers.

Braga

A large fountain puts on a show in front of Arcada, part of
Braga's Renaissance urban development.

Known as the Baroque capital of Portugal, Braga has the country's oldest cathedral, numerous impressive buildings, and a university, which can be credited with giving the city a certain amount of vibrancy and hipness. The day is sunny and warm (at least for February) and we have no trouble finding Braga's main plaza and tourism office. We are pointed in the direction of the historical quarter and set off through a maze of Gothic streets.

This altar is located inside the Church of the Third Order
of Saint Francis, one of Braga's many churches.

The Episcopal Palace (Paço Arcebispal dos Braganças) was built for the
brother of King João V.

Street art adds a touch of whimsy to Braga, Portugal's
third largest city.

Braga is dotted with pieces of art and murals that provide great contrasts to the austere churches. We spend just a few hours here, as we have a few more stops today.

Maybe if I were a 30 years younger, I would stay up late to check out
this nightclub in Braga.

Bom Jesus do Monte

Five-hundred, seventy-seven steps lead up to Bom Jesus
do Monte.

Just a few kilometers from Braga is Bom Jesus do Monte, a religious sanctuary and pilgrimage site. Pilgrims might opt to climb the 577 steps to the top of the mountain, but we hitch a ride on the funicular. This antique tram was built in 1882 and is powered by water. Once all the tourists are on board and photos have been taken, we take off. The 1,000-foot ascent takes just three minutes.

The views of Braga from the terraces of Bom Jesus do Monte are best enjoyed
on a bright sunny day such as this.

The sanctuary church stands atop the steps of Bom Jesus
do Monte.

Dioramas inside small chapels at Bom Jesus do Monte depict the Stations
of the Cross.

At the top we enjoy amazing views of Braga and peek into the various octagonal chapels that contain life-size Stations of the Cross. The interior of the large sanctuary church is being renovated, but we'd rather be outside anyway, high above the world below.

Landscaped grounds, a restaurant, and a luxury hotel also can be found at
Bom Jesus do Monte.

The steps of Bom Jesus do Monte near Braga are swept
with these rustic brooms.

We depart by way of the stairs, and along the way we nod greetings to the artisans who are carefully repairing the mosaic stone steps.

Guimarães

The Padrão do Salado in Guimarães is a Gothic-style structure
commemorating the Battle of Salado against the Moors,
which took place in the south of Spain in 1340.  

The stunning city of Guimarães is considered to be the birthplace of Portugal's identity. Its roots go back to the 10th century when a monastery was built on a rural estate at the wish of the wealthy and religious Countess Mumadona. A castle was built to protect the monastery from raids carried out by the Normans (from the north) and by Muslims (from the south).

The town has been meticulously restored and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Oliveira dates back to the 10th century,
when Guimarães was born.

I have only a few photographs of Guimarães as we spend the last hours of the good afternoon light having a late lunch, but we pass a memorable few hours here. Plazas, churches, and monuments seem to be around each corner, and we promise ourselves that on our next visit we will allow more time — possibly a few days — to visit the Ducal Palace, the Casa da Memória, and the Archaeological and Alberto Sampaio museums.