Braga is one of the oldest Portuguese cities and one of the oldest Christian cities in the world; founded during the roman era as Bracara Augusta, it has more than 2000 years of History as a City.
In the course of the centuries some legends, tales and myths were born.
You are from Braga, you left the door open…
Frequently we hear people saying “You are from Braga, you left the door open”, associating to Braga’s citizens the fact that they often leave the doors wide open. There are some versions supporting this saying. The most known says that Braga’s citizens were the first ones leaving the city gates open.
In the beginning of the XVI century, the Archbishop D. Diogo Sousa came up with the idea of opening a new gate in the wall – still known today as “Porta Nova” (New Gate or New Door). The purpose was to complete the Souto Street with the opening of a new door, creating a commercial area at the end of the street and a gate allowing the access to the area beyond the walls. However, since there were no more wars and the city’s limits had been extended beyond the wall, he did not add any wooden door. However, all the other seven doors were closed at the end of the day, this was an exception for that day and age. From that day on, it has been said that Braga’s people are known for leaving the doors open… which was still subject to prejudice. One never knows when a horde of Castilians would catch them off-guard.
The other hypothesis, more feasible I think, states that in Minho region exists a great communitarian spirit between neighbours, where everyone knows each other and knows each other’s life, so people did not have to worry about closing the doors of their homes. This way, neighbours felt at home, coming into the houses and enter leaving them as they will. In fact, nowadays this is still a common behaviour in some of Minho’s villages, therefore I think this is the most plausible version. Some not so old generations of Braga's citizens still had the habit of leaving the doors open.
