It is a project by renowned architect Eduardo Souto de Moura and has been recognised nationally and internationally. With a landscape that fuses an old quarry and a valley, it is a reference for architecture lovers.
The Municipal Stadium of Braga is one of the most emblematic works of architecture and engineering linked to sport. Built for Euro 2004, where it hosted two group stage matches, it is one of the stadiums with the greatest impact on national and international football. Built in an old quarry and with a simply picturesque setting, its most distinctive feature is that it only has two stands. This means that all spectators can contemplate the sporting spectacle from a privileged position. The roof of the stadium, which proved to be the greatest challenge of the entire project, is inspired by the bridges built by the Inca civilisation in Peru and is connected by steel cables spaced 3.75 metres apart. Another peculiarity is that there are two levels under the playing field. On one level, spectators can move between the stands, while on the other there is an underground car park. In 2011, architect Eduardo Souto de Moura was awarded the Pritzker Prize, the world’s highest architectural honour. The award was presented in Washington (USA) at a ceremony where the stadium was singled out by the jury and praised by the then President of the United States, Barack Obama.