Itenarary through Bracara Augusta

Braga is undeniably built over an old Roman city. Every time there are restorations more ruins and objects of the time are found. There are traces of Bracara Augusta all over the historical center: some are in plain view, others are hidden, but all of them allow you to perceive a little bit of the Roman Empire’s History.

If you are interested in History and/or fascinated with the Roman civilization, Braga is a city of mandatory visit in Portugal. Walking through the city’ streets, it’s almost possible to go back in time and make an itinerary through Bracara Augusta. We leave you here some locations that will help you make that time travel:

See also: 7 places to visit in Braga – that are not churches

Roman Thermae of Alto da Cividade

The Roman Thermae of Bracara Augusta are located in Alto da Cividade, inside a museum, where it can be visited by all the publics. According to the investigation conducted at the time of its discovery, the building dates back to the 2nd century and it is composed by various divisions for cold and hot baths and also by an area destined to workout.

By these ruins, you’ll also find traces of what was a theatre, an equipment that only important cities possessed at the time.

Residential area of ex Albergue distrital

In the area where Albergue distrital was located, by Saint Paul’s Church, there are several traces of what was a privileged residential area. Here, it was possible to identify several structures associated with domus (family homes), like a system that drained the unclean water to the outskirts of the city. Today, part of that system is preserved and can be seen through the floor of Lúcio Craveiro da Silva Library. In front of Our Lady of the Tower’s Church, it’s visible only the drawing of an old wall, which, after being discovered, was photographed and covered again.

Domus of Sé’s old school

Under the old primary school of Sé’s parish, were discovered the ruins of a Roman home that today is a museum. The domus is believed to have been built in the 1st century, but it went through changes between the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century, time around which it was widened to include a private bath and other divisions.

Domus of Frigideiras do Cantinho

At Frigideiras do Cantinho, one of the oldest and most well-known cafes in the city, it’s also possible to find structures that belonged to a domus. Under the glass floor of this place, you can see a distribution corridor to other divisions and the rests of a hypocaust, a system that was certainly use do warm up the water of the house’s private bath.

Pio XII Museum and D. Diogo de Sousa Museum

At XII Museum and D. Diogo de Sousa Museum, as well as in several other museums of the city, it’s possible to find pieces and objects that date back to the Romans. Statues, religious objects and utensils are only some of the pieces that you can find in these places.