In 1625, Dom Afonso Furtado de Mendonça attended the laying of the first stone of the Temple of Santa Cruz, founded on the site where the granite cross was erected by Archbishop Dom Afonso Furtado de Mendonça Diogo Sousa (1505-1532) at the intersection of the streets of Anjo, São Marcos and Largo Carlos Amarante. With alms from the brothers and under the patronage of the Archbishop Primate of Braga, the first phase was completed in 1653.

The church of Santa Cruz is one of the tallest and most expressive examples of Baroque in the city of Braga, standing out for the quality and richness of its ornamentation.

On the façade, marked by the architrave over the three main doors leading to the church, the thirteen instruments of Christ’s passion stand out, such as the crown of thorns, the nails, the scorpion, the gall sponge, etc.

Also of enormous beauty and simplicity, the two bell towers that border the side of the façade, where the clocks are incorporated and whose ornamentation is due to the master stonemason Francisco Álvares, stand out.

Inside, the spacious side chapels stand out, separated by arches and whose altars display splendid carvings, where various images with relics of saints of rare value are venerated.

The presbytery, covered by a coffered stone vault, has works of wonderful beauty such as the altarpiece, the frames and borders of the windows, the shutters of the presbytery and two reliquary cabinets.

Also noteworthy are the pulpit with a border, the organ and the depressed arch that supports the front of the upper choir.