Braga, Portugal - The 2012 European Youth Capital.

Holiday ideas? 2012 is an excellent year for you to travel to Portugal and visit its oldest city: BRAGA.  The city has been awarded the title of European Youth Capital for this current year and will be holding many attractions throughout 2012. 


The best time to visit Braga is during Easter, when for an entire week the city blazes with lights and there is a torchlight procession of hooded participants.


The European Youth Capital is a title granted to a European city for a year and is awarded by the European Youth Forum. Over this period the chosen city will have the opportunity to showcase its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development and to host a number of corresponding events.  (source: wikipedia)



Braga is often described as one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal, typically Baroque, founded by a Celtic tribe called Bracari and later occupied by the Romans - it became the seat of a large archbishopric and the country's religious capital in the 11th century.

Today Braga is a modern city with a young population, bustling with commerce and industry surrounding a lively and attractive old center with a number of pedestrian streets.

To get to Braga from London a good choice is to fly to either Faro or Lisbon and from there, take another flight to the city of OPorto.  Porto is about 50 kilometres from Braga and is in itself another great city to explore during your holidays.  There are direct flights from the UK to O Porto as well if you prefer to save time although the choice for days and time are not as varied as if you are flying to Lisbon.. For those who like to explore the countryside, a good idea is to hire a car in Lisbon and plan your journey to Braga visiting the many charming villages you will encounter on your way to the north. 



Hope you have the chance to add Braga to your "Holidays wish list" and   when in there, don't miss the Frigideira de Braga, a puff pastry pie filled with delicious beef trimmings.  The most famous place to have them is at Frigideiras do Cantinho, founded in 1796!