Anyone been to or familiar with this town west of Braga?
The train from Lisbon stops there so it would be easy to get to and maybe (probably) a lot less tourist laden.
Dennis
Posted by
Wynnewood, PA, USA
275 posts
Last Oct. I finished a segment of the Camino Portuguese in Barcelos and spent but an hour walking into the city and looking around. It's a good-looking small city but since I had planned on staying in Braga, I grabbed a taxi and headed out. I loved my night and one day Braga. So much so in fact, this past June I returned to Braga and Guimarães for a longer visit. The sights in Braga and Guimarães are special, and the other visitors never seem to mar my adventure. "Tourist laden" - it's all in the eye of the beholder.
Posted by
OP
Connecticut
99 posts
Craig,
In that case, tell me more about Braga. Did you write a trip report? I have visited Lisbon and environs 3 times since 2016 with a short stay in Porto.
I am in search of another region to explore that can be reached without a car. Braga is a possibility.
Dennis
Posted by
374 posts
Hi
Barcelos claim to fame is the legend of "Galo de Barcelos", other than that it's a nice small town.
I have stayed in Braga many times and always enjoyed it.
Braga has a number of interesting monuments, pedestrian only area in the city centre, fresh produce,meat and fish market, cafes and restaurants.
Braga has has a train and bus terminal, which I have used for nearby days trips and also into Spain. The bus terminal is near the market.
If you're into soccer Braga's team is in premier league and it's stadium is interesting in the fact that part of a hill was cut to make space for the stadium.
Braga - Bracara Augusta was a Roman administrative area and at one time the religious centre for Northern Portugal and Spain. To this day it remains an important religious city for both countries during religious celebrations.
If you don't like crowds don't visit during religious celebrations.
Braga also has a university, so it's a nice mix of old and new.
Braga is not viewed as a tourist city but rather as a working city for local people even though lots of people visit it's monuments and it's packed during the religious celebrations.
The drawbacks of Braga is the weather in the winter and it's not near the ocean ( about an hour away).
https://porto-north-portugal.com/braga-portugal-guide.html
Happy travels