Praça da República or Largo da Arcada, in Braga
Praça da República is located on Avenida da Liberdade, Praça da República or Largo da Arcada, city of Braga, northern Portugal.
The Arcade or “Largo da Arcada”, has its origins in the Middle Ages and is a project by Archbishop D. Diogo de Sousa, also responsible for the work on the chevet of the Cathedral of Braga.
During the century. In the 16th century, the goods that supplied the city were sold in this square and, for this reason, the arcade itself served as a porch to accommodate animals and merchandise.
Today's Arcade is not the original, however it was built in the same location and to replace the previous one. It dates back to 1715 and was built on the initiative of Archbishop D. Rodrigo de Moura Teles. It consists of eight arches on each side and three in the central part, for a total of 19 arches.
Over the years, the square where the Arcada is located has seen its name change numerous times. It was called Largo da Lapa from 1761 until 1904 (the previous name is unknown), Largo Hintze Ribeiro from 1904 until 1910, and from then on Praça da República.
Praça da República is the place best known as Arcada, after many years it is as if Arcada had not lost its original purpose as it continues to be a meeting and socializing point.
In this space we can find two emblematic cafes in the city: the Vianna cafe was born in 1871 and the references that writers such as Eça de Queirós and Camilo Castelo Branco made to the place are well known.
Café Astória, next to Café Vianna, dates back to 1928 and in the Diário do Minho newspaper on July 15th of that year, it was presented as “a chic establishment, recommended to the most demanding, to those who seek, in comfort, a justification for spending their money”.
Between 1994 and 1995, the last intervention took place in the square, with the definitive removal of car traffic.
This place made Arcada an even more interesting place, and one of the places to visit in Braga.
In Braga, it is in the Arcada that every morning, the oldest and most experienced inhabitants gather to socialize and comment on current news.
The Arcade or “Largo da Arcada”, has its origins in the Middle Ages and is a project by Archbishop D. Diogo de Sousa, also responsible for the work on the chevet of the Cathedral of Braga.
During the century. In the 16th century, the goods that supplied the city were sold in this square and, for this reason, the arcade itself served as a porch to accommodate animals and merchandise.
Today's Arcade is not the original, however it was built in the same location and to replace the previous one. It dates back to 1715 and was built on the initiative of Archbishop D. Rodrigo de Moura Teles. It consists of eight arches on each side and three in the central part, for a total of 19 arches.
Over the years, the square where the Arcada is located has seen its name change numerous times. It was called Largo da Lapa from 1761 until 1904 (the previous name is unknown), Largo Hintze Ribeiro from 1904 until 1910, and from then on Praça da República.
Praça da República is the place best known as Arcada, after many years it is as if Arcada had not lost its original purpose as it continues to be a meeting and socializing point.
In this space we can find two emblematic cafes in the city: the Vianna cafe was born in 1871 and the references that writers such as Eça de Queirós and Camilo Castelo Branco made to the place are well known.
Café Astória, next to Café Vianna, dates back to 1928 and in the Diário do Minho newspaper on July 15th of that year, it was presented as “a chic establishment, recommended to the most demanding, to those who seek, in comfort, a justification for spending their money”.
Between 1994 and 1995, the last intervention took place in the square, with the definitive removal of car traffic.
This place made Arcada an even more interesting place, and one of the places to visit in Braga.
In Braga, it is in the Arcada that every morning, the oldest and most experienced inhabitants gather to socialize and comment on current news.
