Semana Santa de Braga

Braga’s Holy Week, with its processions through the old city, one of Portugal’s great religious celebrations.

Every spring, Braga celebrates Holy Week with processions that fill the old city with light, music and centuries of devotion. The Semana Santa is one of the greatest religious celebrations of Portugal, and its processions — led by the confraternities of the city — draw visitors from across the country and beyond.

History and traditions

The Holy Week traditions of Braga go back centuries, shaped by the confraternities and the cathedral of the city. Through the days of Holy Week, the processions carry the images of the Passion through streets decorated with flowers and candles — between the baroque churches of the historic centre, in a celebration that remains deeply religious.

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The processions of Holy Week, through the historic centre.
The churches of Braga, decorated for the season.
The music and silence of the night processions.
The traditions of the city’s confraternities.

Visiting

The Semana Santa is celebrated each year through Holy Week, in March or April, with dates that change every year. It is first of all a religious celebration: visitors are welcome to watch respectfully, and the programme of each year should be confirmed with the municipality before your visit.