The Diocese of Braga is the oldest Diocese in Portugal, consisting of 14 archpriestates and a total of 551 parishes. It is home to a population of approximately 850,000 inhabitants.

Braga is a centre of religious pilgrimage which between 26 and 31 July will receive pilgrims from diverse parts of the world for the Days in the Dioceses, the meeting that precedes the week of World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023.

This diocese is also a popular tourist destination due to its historical and culinary attractions. Braga's gastronomy features typical dishes such as "Bacalhau à Braga" or "Papas de Sarrabulho". The former is a recipe of codfish with potatoes, onions, eggs and olives, while the latter is a soup made of pig's blood, meat and bread.

Among the many places to visit in the Diocese of Braga, it can be found the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Sameiro, one of the biggest Marian pilgrimage centres in the world; the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, considered one of the most important sanctuaries in the country; the Cathedral of Braga; the Castle of Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the National Park Peneda-Gerês, the only national park in Portugal located on the border with Spain.

Did you know that...?

1.          

The Diocese of Braga is the oldest in the country and its Cathedral is one of the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula.

2.          

Braga is known as the "City of Archbishops”

3.          

The Archbishop of Braga is traditionally a native of the city and he is also considered as the Archbishop of Spain.

Find out more about the Diocese of Braga here:

The Days in the Dioceses (DND) is a gathering of young people from around the world in the run-up to World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023 and will take place in 17 dioceses in mainland Portugal and the islands: Algarve; Angra; Aveiro; Beja; Braga; Bragança-Miranda; Coimbra; Évora; Funchal; Guarda; Lamego; Leiria-Fátima; Portalegre-Castelo Branco; Porto; Viana do Castelo; Vila Real and Viseu.

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing more about each of these 17 dioceses.

More information about the DNDs and a map with the location of each diocese here.