On arriving in Bragança one cannot fail to see the lovely citadel on top of the hill. From the "new city", one can see the old white town that grew in the shadows of the grandiose and well preserved Dungeon. It is the first place to visit in this city nestled in the Northeast of Trás-os-Montes. Its history goes back a long way. The town was destroyed during the wars between the Moors and Christians. It was rebuilt near the Monastery of Castro de Avelãs. King Sancho I gave it a charter in 1187 and 3 centuries later in 1442 it became a dukedom. This was the beginning of the important House of Bragança. The first Duke, Afonso, was the illegitimate son of King João I and the son in law of Nuno Álvares Pereira. The first tariff free fair was held here in 1445 attesting to the importance of the town. It was elevated to a city in 1466 by King Afonso V. The city owed its development not only to the aristocracy and royalty but also to the Jews, who found this a pleasant place to live in and developed its commerce. Between the 15th and 19th centuries Bragança became the centre for the production of silk.
Its history was not always peaceful; in 1762 the Spanish invaded it and in 1808 the French attacked it. It overcame its vicissitudes and can proudly say it never lost its patriotism. Today Bragança is a peaceful town, contrasted by lively students.
There are 49 parishes around with isolated and characteristic people. They can be found in villages in the Nature Park of Montesinho. Both Bragança and the town of Vinhais are possible access routes for the villages. One can visit the local Convent of São Francisco and taste the Salpicão (a local sausage).
