2022 Thursday, Oct 6

Barcelos Rest Day (bus to Braga)

We booked a “rest day” in Barcelos intending to visit the nearby city of Braga. After an obligatory visit to the laundromat in the morning, we visited some churches and then took a bus to (and from) Braga.

7.9 miles for the day.

2022   Portugal Camino   Portuguese

No video for the day.

Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria Major in Barcelos
Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria Major in Barcelos is Gothic architecture from the 14th century and is now considered a National Monument.
rose window like Lisbon in the Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria Major in Barcelos
Like Lisbon’s cathedral, there is a window with the apostles.
Azulejos tile pictures in Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria Major in Barcelos
Azulejos tile pictures cover the walls.
Tempio do Senior Bom Jesus da Cruz in Barcelos
The Tempio do Senior Bom Jesus da Cruz, also in Barcelos, is a church built in the 18th century Baroque style where the miracle of the cross occurred.
Krishna, a Mumbai actress at the bus station
While waiting for our bus, Krishna approached us and asked how old we were. We had a lively conversation—she is an actress from Mumbai now living in Portugal.
garden in Braga
The Santa Barbara gardens in Braga were an explosion of color.
Braga's cathedral
With limited time, we had to choose to visit only a couple of major sites. One was the Sé (Cathedral), the first cathedral in Portugal from the 1100’s. For many years, it was the center of Portuguese Christianity.
Braga's cathedral interior
Braga's cathedral interior
Arca da Porta Nova in Braga
The Arca da Porta Nova is a Baroque and Neoclassical gate designed in the late 18th century.
Palacio del Reio in Braga
Our second site pick was the Palacio del Reio, now a museum with gardens.
Braga Palacio del Reio stable
The stables.

Back to the bus station but a 30-minute line kept us from making the express bus back to Barcelos. No problem—we took a regional bus and saw more countryside instead of a highway.

Barcelos sign
A few last minutes views in Barcelos.
24-hour vending machine outside the pharmacy
One interesting spot outside a pharmacy is the 24-hour vending machine. You can choose COVID tests, bandaids, condoms, masks, baby formula, etc.

Comments:

Wanda Penner:  Have you noticed if there are Protestant churches? The towns seem close together. Finally, how are the feet holding up? 22/10/08

Reply: Richard has seen some non-Catholic churches on Google maps but we haven’t actually seen one. The way takes us by the Catholic Churches but they are seldom open. I have quite a procedure for my feet each morning and it seems to be working. Callouses are getting harder and no new blisters. 2022/10/10