Jardim de Santa Bárbara

In the heart of Braga, beside the arcades of the old archbishop’s palace, the Jardim de Santa Bárbara is a jewel-box of formal gardening. Its clipped box parterres and seasonal flowerbeds are set against the palace’s gothic arches, in one of the most photographed corners of the city.

History and character

The garden occupies part of the former palace of the archbishops of Braga, an ensemble with medieval roots that is now the city hall. Its geometric parterres follow the tradition of Portuguese formal gardens, renewed with flowers through the seasons, and the surrounding arcades frame the garden like a stage.

What to see

• The formal parterres of box hedging and seasonal flowers.
• The gothic arcades and windows of the old palace around the garden.
• The little fountain and the garden’s quiet symmetry.
• The surrounding streets of the historic centre of Braga.

Best time to visit

The garden is replanted through the year, so each season brings new colours; spring and summer are the brightest. It is small and popular — mornings are quieter.

Nearby

The garden is in the centre of Braga, a short walk from the cathedral and the city’s other monuments. The cathedral stands a short walk away, over the same old city.

Visiting

The garden is in the centre of Braga, reached on foot from the main squares, and it is open to the public daily, free of charge.

Information: cm-braga.pt.

Image credit: Jardim de Santa Bárbara, Braga, by Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.