You've probably read a lot about the different areas of Portugal in the South, such as Lisbon and the rest of the Tagus Valley, but now let's shift our focus further north where there is still a lot of Portugal left to be discussed. One such place is Braga, which is the capital of its own district and is located smack dab in the middle of the Northern part of Portugal. Although Braga doesn't have any beaches, it still offers more than enough reason to visit and if you are already planning on checking out the capital of Oporto, you may as well at this destination to your itinerary as well.

Like many other cities in Portugal, Braga is located in a river area and in this case it is the River Este. There are a variety of ways to travel in Braga, such as train, bus, and rental car, which makes sightseeing very easy. The city of Braga has a lot of history, as it was the home of many ancient civilizations and kingdoms. As such, you will find plenty of historical artifacts, buildings, and monuments within the borders of Braga. Like the rest of Portugal, many of the most ancient buildings are remnants of ancient abbeys and monasteries used between the 12th and 16th centuries.

The town of Braga also happens to be home of the Archbishop's Palace of Braga, which happens to be the home of one of the largest Catholic Diocese in the country. It was thanks to the church that the city was given improved streets and infrastructure and so you will see a lot of the city dedicated to the church. This gives Braga a very relaxed atmosphere and therefore it is much quieter than many of the more modern cities in Portugal. Life in Braga is much more simplistic and slowed down, so if you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the rest of the country, Braga might be the perfect place. It is quaint, but also very thrilling at the same time.

Although there are no beaches in Braga, the river offers a lot of lush landscape and scenery that seems to be unique to the Northern part of the country. The gardens are intermixed with the rest of the city and add to the overall atmosphere of the city.

If you are looking to experience all that Portugal has to offer, then I highly recommend that you spend some time in the capital, Porto, and then take a short journey to Braga, where you can slow down and spend some time enjoying the peace and quiet of the town. You will have plenty of things to see and do, plenty of places to dine at, and if you choose to stay the night you will be able to find a reasonably priced hotel or hostel. If you are already in the area, you might as well complete your trip by visiting Braga. The churches alone will make the trip worth your while.