Portuguese Central Way of St. James through Braga

The Way of St. James is a medieval Christian pilgrimage route, traveled since the beginning of the 9th century by faithful from all over Europe to Santiago de Compostela, where they pay homage to the apostle.
Among the various Jacobean itineraries, the Portuguese Central Way stands out as the most frequented in Portugal and is today one of the most emblematic and spiritually significant routes on the Iberian Peninsula.
This itinerary is made up of several routes in Portugal, but it is important to highlight the historical role of the Central Portuguese Way through Braga. This 240 km route was the first to be intensively used by pilgrims until the beginning of the 14th century, when the construction of the Barcelos bridge and the renovation of the Ponte de Lima bridge redirected part of the flow to other routes.
The route through Braga largely followed the route of the old Via Romana XIX, which connected Lisbon to Braga, passing through important centers such as Coimbra and Porto. This Roman infrastructure, still visible in some sections, provided a structured and relatively safe route for medieval pilgrims.
Braga's prestige during the Middle Ages cannot be ignored. In the 11th century, the city competed with Santiago de Compostela for religious prominence in the northwest of the peninsula, aspiring to the title of center of Christianity in the region. Its importance as a bishop's seat and its role in the Christianization of the Iberian Peninsula reinforced its importance in the context of pilgrimages.

The Cathedral of Braga preserves the tomb of St. Peter of Rates, who, according to Christian tradition, was a disciple of St. James the Greater, who ordained him bishop, the first of the then diocese of Braga. His statue is located under the portico, next to the other holy archbishops of Braga, and you can also admire a tile panel inside the cathedral describing the life of the saint, who is currently the secondary patron saint of the archdiocese.
Today, the Way through Braga continues to be a route of great historical, spiritual and cultural value, offering pilgrims a unique experience of introspection and contact with Portugal's ancestral heritage.

Parishes of the City of Braga on the São Tiago and Its Monuments Trail

1 - Escudeiros - Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, Parish Church
2 - Santo Estevão de Penso - Parish Church, Churchyard Cross
3 - Trandeiras - Parish Church, Ribeiro Roman Fountain
4 - Lamas - Mamoa de Lamas, Mother Church
5 - Esporões - Mount and Archaeological Site of Santa Marta das Cortiças, Parish Church
6 - São Paio D'Arcos - Mother Church, Cross
7 - Lomar - Mother Church, Chapel of Senhor dos Milagres
8 - São José de São Lázaro - Palácio do Raio, Fonte do Ídolo, Basilica dos Congregados
9 - Cividade - Termas de Bracara Augusta and Roman theater, Torre S. Tiago or Medieval Tower, Cruise with Fountain in Largo de Santiago
10 - Sé - Sé Primacial, Igreja da Misericórdia, Arco da Porta Nova, Domus da Escola Velha da Sé
11 - Maximinos - Parish Church of Maximinos, Chapel of S. Miguel-o-Anjo, Fountain of Rua Andrade Corvo
12 - Real - Chapel of São Frutuoso de Montélios, Teaching farm
13 - Dume - Dume Museum Center, Archaeological Ruins of the Roman Village Bathhouse, Municipal Stadium
14 - Frossos - Parish Church, Chapel of São Caetano, Chapel of Santo António
15 - São Pedro de Merelim - Parish Church, Chapel of S. Brás
16 - Palmeira - Dona Chica Palace, Bico Bridge, Roman road, Senhor do Rio Chapel
17 - São Paio de Merelim - Parish Church, River Beach, Chapel of São Bento

Stages of the Central Portuguese route through Braga

1- Porto - Trofa
2- Trofa - Vila Nova de Famalicão
3- Vila Nova de Famalicão - Braga
4- Braga - Goães (Vila Verde)
5- Goães (Vila Verde) - Ponte de Lima
6- Ponte de Lima - Rubiães (Paredes de Coura)
7- Rubiães (Paredes de Coura) - Tui
8- Tui - Redondela
9- Redondela - Pontevedra
10- Pontevedra - Caldas de Reis
11- Caldas de Rei - Padrón
12- Padrón - Santiago de Compostela

Route on the Central Portuguese Way through Braga:

The Central Portuguese Way through Braga runs for approximately 19 km in the municipality of Braga, passing through the parishes mentioned at the beginning.
Get to know the route of the Central Portuguese Way through Braga in the municipality of Braga HERE.