Largo da Praça Velha, in Braga
The Arco da Porta Nova is located on Rua Dom Diogo de Sousa in the parish of Sé, city of Braga, in the north of Portugal.
History
In 1512 this Arch was built by Archbishop D. Diogo de Sousa, who was also responsible for works such as the Arcade or the head of the Cathedral.
During this period, wars no longer occurred very frequently and this monument was considered an innovative concept at the time because the Porta Nova Arch never had a door.
The Arco da Porta Nova led to a square with a fountain where we could find a fish market.
In 1772, the initiative for its construction came from Archbishop D. Gaspar de Bragança and was carried out by Braga architect André Soares at a historical moment when the city was expanding outside the walls.
During this period, wars no longer occurred very frequently and this monument was considered an innovative concept at the time because the Porta Nova Arch never had a door.
The Arco da Porta Nova led to a square with a fountain where we could find a fish market.
In 1772, the initiative for its construction came from Archbishop D. Gaspar de Bragança and was carried out by Braga architect André Soares at a historical moment when the city was expanding outside the walls.
The characteristics of the Porta Nova Arch
The version we know today of the Porta Nova Arch is that it was built by Archbishop D. Gaspar de Bragança in 1772, but there is doubt as to who designed the arch.
The person who has the most consensus on the Arch's design is André Soares, but there are authors such as Eduardo Pires de Oliveira who attribute the Arch's authorship to Carlos Amarante.
The doubt is fueled by the design of the two sides of the Arch, that is, the side facing into the city contains the figure of Our Lady of Nazaré, a pilaster on each side, in an approach to the Baroque style that coincides with all of André Soares' work.
The opposite side, which faces the outside of the city, contains the weapons of faith of Archbishop D. Gastar, at the top, the allegorical statue of the city of Braga is closer to the neoclassical style that coincides with the style of Carlos Amarante.
The person who has the most consensus on the Arch's design is André Soares, but there are authors such as Eduardo Pires de Oliveira who attribute the Arch's authorship to Carlos Amarante.
The doubt is fueled by the design of the two sides of the Arch, that is, the side facing into the city contains the figure of Our Lady of Nazaré, a pilaster on each side, in an approach to the Baroque style that coincides with all of André Soares' work.
The opposite side, which faces the outside of the city, contains the weapons of faith of Archbishop D. Gastar, at the top, the allegorical statue of the city of Braga is closer to the neoclassical style that coincides with the style of Carlos Amarante.
The appearance of a popular expression: “Are you from Braga?”
The fact that Arco da Porta Nova never had a door gave rise to the expression “És de Braga!”, that is, when someone leaves the door open they say they are from Braga.
But there are other explanations that relate to the city's community spirit: so that neighbors could enter whenever they wanted, Braga residents would leave the door open.
Other more metaphysical explanations speak of a wise old man who would go to people's homes and ask the inhabitants to leave the door open so that he could clear his brain and give better advice.
From then on, the inhabitants of Braga became known as those who don't close the door.
But there are other explanations that relate to the city's community spirit: so that neighbors could enter whenever they wanted, Braga residents would leave the door open.
Other more metaphysical explanations speak of a wise old man who would go to people's homes and ask the inhabitants to leave the door open so that he could clear his brain and give better advice.
From then on, the inhabitants of Braga became known as those who don't close the door.
