Estádio Municipal de Braga

Estádio Municipal de Braga is a football stadium on the eastern edge of Braga in northern Portugal that opened in 2003. The venue is internationally noted for being carved into the face of a quarry and for hosting matches during UEFA Euro 2004.

The stadium’s most striking feature is the open quarry end that forms a natural stone backdrop opposite the covered stands; seating capacity is about 30,000. Guided tours and matchday visits show the pitch, stands and hospitality areas, and the setting is frequently photographed for its architectural contrast of stone and concrete.

Commissioned for Euro 2004, the stadium was designed by Eduardo Souto de Moura and constructed at the turn of the 21st century to host international fixtures and provide a modern home for S.C. Braga. Since opening it has been used for domestic league matches, cup fixtures and occasional concerts.

The stadium sits on the outskirts of the city of Braga in Braga District, northern Portugal, within a short drive of the historic city centre and well connected by local roads.

• Design and date: Designed by architect Eduardo Souto de Moura and completed in 2003, it was built for UEFA Euro 2004 and is notable for being set into a former quarry face.
• Capacity and tenant: Seating capacity is approximately 30,000 spectators, and the stadium is the home ground for the local professional football club S.C. Braga.

What to See #

• Pitch and stands: The playing pitch sits between two covered stands and an open rock-face end, producing a distinctive asymmetrical profile where the stadium is cut into a former quarry.
• Hospitality and conference areas: Corporate boxes, hospitality suites and conference spaces line the main stands and are integrated into the structure carved from the quarry sides.
• Quarry rock-face backdrop: A prominent open end looks toward the exposed quarry rock face and landscaped terraces, forming a visual backdrop used in broadcasts and photographs.