The Praça da República, also known as the Arcade, is the center of Braga and is located in the Parish of São José de São Lázaro.
This square is located in between Barão de São Martinho and São Francisco avenues. Praça da República dates back to the Middle ages, and is named the Arcade due to the arch that was constructed because of the commission by D. Rodrigo de Moura Telles, in 1715. The engineer Joaquim Pereira da Cruz transformed this space into a garden in the middle of the 19th century.
However, the most recent renovations of this area took place between 1994 and 1995 when a traffic light was removed and replaced with a one-source light. Many things are located in this square like Café Vianna, Lapa Church, and the Astoria. This is one of the highlights of Braga and is a must-see for any tourist.