Bom Jesus do Monte (Good Jesus of the Hill)

The Sanctuary of Good Jesus of the Hill dominates the landscape of Braga. From the top you can see the whole city and the mountain that surrounds it. Besides the Sanctuary there is also a park, hotels and terraces, which may be crowded at weekends. The main staircase is particularly impressive, with its little chapels all the way to the top. To those who prefer not to climb all the way up, there is an 18th century water-powered elevator. A water tank that is filled on the elevator that is at the top uses gravity to slide down the hill, pulling up the elevator that is at the bottom (lighter because of its empty water tank). The Sanctuary, the stone staircase and the little chapels were all built in 1774, having been projected by one of the most famous local architects, Carlos Amarante.

Estádio Municipal de Braga (Braga Municipal Stadium)

This award winning piece of architecture is located in a spectacular setting – carved out of the granite of Monte Castro – using the space of an old quarry. The unique design – with only two lateral stands with no seating behind the goals – was created by Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto Moura. Steel cables are stretched between the two stands while behind one goal is the granite wall of the mountain and behind the other is an open space with a view of the valley beyond. In November 2004 Souto Moura was awarded with a prize for this project.