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Braga is a city of enormous beauty and patrimonial heritage, joining tradition with innovation, memory with youth, creativity with conservativeness. With more than 2000 years of existence and a very rich history, it possesses one of the most ancient sacred Mounts of Europe, the Bom Jesus. It is in Braga that the most ancient Cathedral of Portugal is found, as well as the mother-house of the Order of Saint Benedict - the Monastery of Tibães.

Braga presents locations that, for their intrinsic devotion and beauty, impose themselves as signs of compulsory reference and visit. The Sanctuary of Sameiro, the Bom Jesus and the Falperra, based on an appellative religious foundation, are surrounded by breathtaking green spaces and paradisiac landscapes. The roman legacy is another of the attractive factors of Braga, frequently named the "Portuguese Rome", fruit of its origin in the roman city of Bracara Augusta, known for its distinct churches, splendid houses of the XVIII century, gardens, parks and leisure spaces. The long history of Braga is visible in all the splendor of its monuments, museums and churches.

Visiting Braga is doing time travelling in modern times. Ancient city of traditional religiousness - always imposing in its wealth and majesty - it lives intertwined with entrepreneurship and the young spirit in vital areas such as culture, commerce, gastronomy, industry and services. Enjoy Braga! From here, leave to discover Gerês, the North of Portugal and Galicia, but come back - because here you are close to everything.

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One of the main Iberian cities, Braga is a reference at the economic, cultural and touristic level as well as in the general quality of life. A modern district, it is accessible, inclusive, young, creative and competitive where knowledge predominates, as well as the environmental and social responsibility, in addition to the creation of value. With this purpose, the activities developed by the municipality go in the sense of promoting the sustainable territorial development of Braga, ensuring the quality of life, social cohesion and economical attractiveness.

Considered to be one of the youngest European cities, Braga manages to join its 2000 year History to a refreshing youth and vitality. Braga has always assumed a regional strategic and central role: from Bracara Augusta to our days, whether for its priviliged geographic location or for its dynamism, Braga performs a role of stimulator of reference at the economical, cultural, knowledge and technological level. Its centrality and relevance allows it to provide an excellent quality of life to its inhabitants, in the most diverse aspects: Health, Employment, Education, Safety, Culture, ...

At the economical level, the municipality considers the Economical Dynamization, Investment Captivation and Internationalization as key vessels in the strategical measures that the municipality has been adopting, in the sense of potentiating Dynamism, Innovation, Knowledge and the Creativity of the Corporate Tissue, in direction to a new local and regional economical cycle. This municipal bet in the promotion of the development based on the transfer of knowledge, technology and sustainability has been potentiating the vision of Braga as a cluster of technological industries, making it increasingly an attractive pole for Investment.

Also Braga as a Destination has been rousing an increasing interest to new segments: from Religious and Cultural Tourism, Business Tourism, City Breaks and also Gastronomy and Wines

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start to affirm themselves as new flagship products in the touristic promotion of the Minho Region.

The vast natural and environmental patrimony of the municipality of Braga is a motive of pride for all its inhabitants, but it also represents an enormous responsibility of environmental protection, preservation and promotion.

The municipality assumes cultural stimulation to be vital for the regional and international affirmation of Braga. In this sense, the strategy of intervention adopted in this area goes from the promotion of a set of projects and initiatives that, relying on institutional synergies increasingly solid and on a progressive investment in cultural equipment, open doors to a City with a Cultural Program diversified and appellative. And since Braga is also about Future, Innovation and Creativity, the municipality affirms itself as a territory where creativity and innovation are superabundant. A formal candidature will be presented to the UNESCO for the city to be a Creative City in the category of Media Arts, an action supported by the partnership of the entire creative ecosystem of the region, opening doors for the development of new and diversified opportunities of initiatives and projects.

The already great diversity of cultural initiatives throughout this lively city proves the dynamism of Braga. From music to theatre and dance, photography and cinema there is an array of sounds, colors and movements that became true traditions due to their richness and

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popularity. Year after year Braga rediscovers events that become richer with time. With a packed religious, cultural and festive schedule, Braga is a city with non-stop fun. Well-respected and sought after, the religious programs are marked with solemn moments and heart-felt devotion, but also with joy, where the sacred and the profane come together.

As far as leisure spaces, Braga possesses several shopping centers and commercial galleries, presenting cinema and theatres and the biggest and most popular brands, from clothing and beauty care to food services and decoration, as well as Electronics - Nike, Zara, Timberland, Benetton, Mango, Salsa, Parfois, IKEA, Porsche, Staples, MediaMarkt, ...

For the food commerce sector and quotidian shopping, several multinational stores are present in the city, such as Continente, Pingo Doce, E.Leclerc, LIDL, Intermarché and Minipreço. As far as fast-food chains, there are 4 McDonald's restaurants and one Burger King.

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The city of Braga offers an exquisite gastronomy, juicy and varied, following the tradition of several generations, with cod being a main dish. The diversity of the natural landscape and the influence received from other people over centuries, are elements explaining the diversity of the gastronomical specialties.

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The culinary art of Braga is famous for its menu diversity and for the care and freshness in their elaboration. The famous "vinho verde" of the region, white or red, provides a great accompaniment, no matter the plate chosen. It is in the confectionary that the cuisine of Braga reaches a greater originality and refinement.

Thanks to its excellent geographic location, Braga is easily accessible by car, train, taxi or bus. The city is served by 5 highways. Railway transportation connects Braga to several points of the country through the services of CP (https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/).

The Francisco Sá Carneiro airport is the main operator in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula receiving the most relevant airlines and low-cost flights (at a mere 30 minutes from Braga, by highway).

As far as public transportation, the municipality is served by the TUB (http://www.tub.pt/). The service connects the whole municipality between villages and towns:

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Other transportation means include:

Go by Bike (www.gobybike.eu) - for tourists wanting to rent Dutch bicycles

Braga Tours (http://bragatours.com) - guided visits by segway

Several Rent-a-Cars (Europcar, Hertz, Atlas, Realcar, ...)

Taxis - www.bragataxis.pt; www.taxisbraga.pt; www.taxi24.pt

Central Bus Station of Braga - http://transdev.pt/index.php

Get Bus service (http://www.getbus.eu) - shuttle making the connection between the airport and the city of Braga in 50 minutes

As far as accommodation, Braga mob proposes comfortable houses for the participants. These are strategically located and will make them feel at home. They include:

Single and/or Double rooms (with sheets, blankets and pillow)

Shared Kitchen (with washing machine for clothes)

Shared Living Room

Shared Bathroom/s (at least one for each 2 participants with towels for showering)

Internet

Bills included (water, gas and electricity)

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ADICIONAR FOTOS AQUI

Essential shopping list (price estimates in €) - http://www.continente.pt/

Kitchen: - 1 Bread - 0,11€ - 1L of Milk - 0,64€ - 500g of Spaghetti - 0,85€ - 1Kg of Rice - 0,95€ - Box of 6 Eggs - 0,85€ - 1 bottle of Olive oil 75cl - 3,50€ - 1 bottle of Water 1L - 0,50€ - Sparkling water - 1,25€ - Pack of 6 33cl Beers - 4,69€ - 1,5L Bottle of white wine - 3,99€ - 250g of Butter - 1,60€ - 1Kg of Sugar - 1,05€ - 1Kg of Turkey meat - 4,89€ - 1Kg of Pork meat - 2,59€ - 1Kg of Chicken - 1,91€ - 1Kg of Salmon - 8,49€ - 1Kg of Fresh fish - 4,99€ Bathroom: - 250ml Shampoo - 3,29€ - 12 units of Toilet paper - 5,19€ - Toothpaste - 3€