The Archbishop's Palace is the dominant structure of central Braga — a long, austere medieval and baroque complex that runs along the eastern side of the old town. Begun in the fourteenth century and expanded repeatedly over the following five hundred years, it served as the residence of the Archbishops of Braga, who were among the most powerful ecclesiastical figures on the Iberian Peninsula.
The building now houses the University of Braga's rectorate, the public library (Biblioteca Pública de Braga), and the municipal archive — all open to visitors. The library's reading room, with its painted ceilings and rows of old volumes, is particularly worth seeking out. The exterior loggia overlooking the Garden of Santa Bárbara is one of the best vantage points in the centre.