Braga, with a population of 155,000 in the urban area, is considered alongside Coimbra, the third most important city of Portugal outside Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan Areas. Including the rural parishes, the municipality has a total of 62 parishes and 170,858 inhabitants. Braga is also the center of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Minho with a population of 798,137 one of the fastest growing urban areas in the European Union. Under the Roman Empire, as Bracara Augusta, it was capital of the province Gallaecia.

The city is also known as the "Portuguese Rome" for its concentration of religious architecture. Braga is located in the North of Portugal, the more developed territory. This town is the commercial and business center of the region.

In Portugal, Braga's population is considered the most conservative, and by some the most pious, by others the most fanatic. The city is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal.

Not far from the city center there are three important sanctuaries: The "Bom Jesus" (where we are right now), the "Sameiro" and the "Santa Marta da Falperra".