The Holy Cross Church (Igreja de Santa Cruz) is the granite church with two bell towers on Largo Carlos Amarante in central Braga. It was begun in 1625 by a lay brotherhood dedicated to the Holy Cross, and its heavily carved front is one of the most striking church facades in a city famous for its churches. Inside, gilded woodwork covers the altars from floor to ceiling.
The Holy Cross Church at a glance
- Where: Largo Carlos Amarante, in the historic centre of Braga, a short walk east of the cathedral and next to the São Marcos hospital church.
- Built: begun in 1625; work on the facade, towers and interior went on for many decades afterwards.
- What it is today: a working Catholic church, still run by the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross, used for services and visited for its facade and gilded interior.
- Time needed: 15–20 minutes for the facade and a look inside, if the doors are open.
A brotherhood's church in the city of archbishops
Braga has been the seat of an archbishop for well over a thousand years, and for centuries the archbishops were also lords of the city. Alongside the cathedral and the monasteries, lay brotherhoods (irmandades) built their own churches here. These were associations of townspeople who looked after worship, charity and processions. The Brotherhood of the Holy Cross started its church in 1625, at a time when Portugal shared its king with Spain; the country regained its independence in 1640, while the building was still going up.
The church took shape slowly, as donations allowed. Its facade mixes the ordered style of the late Renaissance with the richer decoration of the early baroque, and the interior was filled with gilded carving in the 18th century, when Braga went through a building boom under its archbishops. The square in front was later named after Carlos Amarante, the Braga architect behind the church of Bom Jesus do Monte above the city, who also worked on the São Marcos hospital church next door.
What to look for
- The facade: a tall front of grey granite, almost every surface carved with columns, niches, scrolls and framed windows. Step back to the far side of the square to take it all in.
- The twin bell towers: two towers frame the facade and give the church its outline against the sky. Compare them with the single-front churches around the centre.
- The cross: the dedication of the church is repeated in crosses on the facade and at the top; look for them as you scan upwards.
- The gilded interior: if the church is open, step inside to see talha dourada, carved and gilded woodwork that covers the main altar and side altars and catches the light from the windows.
- The neighbours: the São Marcos church on the same square, with statues lining its roof, makes a good contrast with Santa Cruz's darker, busier facade.
Why Braga has so many churches
Portuguese people sum up their cities with an old saying: Lisbon has fun, Porto works and Braga prays. The line is a joke, but it reflects the city's history as a religious centre, with the archbishop's palace, the cathedral and dozens of churches and chapels within the old centre. The tradition is most visible during Holy Week, when Braga holds large processions through the streets and many churches are decorated for the occasion.
Tips for your visit
- Come in the late afternoon, when the sun lights up the granite and brings out the depth of the carving.
- Opening times depend on services and on the brotherhood; if the doors are closed, the facade alone is worth the stop. If they are open and a service is on, stay at the back and keep quiet.
- During Holy Week the centre fills with processions and visitors; it is the most atmospheric time to see Braga's churches, but also the busiest.
Nearby
- Palácio do Raio: an 18th-century mansion covered in blue and white tiles, just around the corner and one of the most photographed facades in Braga.
- São Marcos church: the church of the old hospital on the same square, with a row of saints standing along its roofline.
- Braga Cathedral: the cathedral and its chapels, cloisters and treasury, one of the oldest cathedrals in Portugal, a few minutes' walk to the west.
- Jardim de Santa Bárbara: the formal flower garden beside the medieval wing of the archbishop's palace, a short walk north-west.
See Braga with World City Trail
Our Braga scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with only about 23 minutes of walking. It includes the fountain on Praça da República and the historic Café A Brasileira. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Braga.
Play the Braga scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Braga →
Play the outdoor escape game in Braga →
Facts checked in October 2026.