The Church of Santa Maria is located near the medieval castle of Braganca. Inside the fortified walls of the castle, which attracts the attention of a high watchtower, there are many ancient monument, and the Church of Santa Maria is situated near one of the outstanding monuments of Bragança, the municipality of Domus Municipalis.

The Church was built in the XVI century and is considered the oldest Church in Braganca. The temple is also called the Church of the Dormition of the virgin Mary, which is devoted to image that painted the ceiling of the Church. Locals still call this Church the Church of our lady of Sardou because the name of the first Church was the Church of Nossa Senhora do Sardao. There is a legend that the image of the virgin was hidden in the forests and thus the Shrine was saved from the hands of Muslim invaders. Later the Shrine was found in the woods, "the habitat of the green lizards" ("SARDU" with Portuguese translates as "green lizard").

The building was originally built in the Romanesque style. In the XVI-XVIII century restoration works were carried out, due to which the appearance of the facade of the Church has changed, been added elements of the Baroque style. Deserve special attention is the high altar and luxurious, elaborately decorated interior of the chapel of the temple. Some of the chapels date back to the XVI century. Inside the temple of three naves. Immediately attracts the eye of a barrel-shaped ceiling, which depicts the assumption of the virgin. Paintings on the walls. The entrance portal is made in the Baroque style and adorned with two beautifully decorated with twisted columns. The side niches of the Church of Santa Maria also made in the Baroque style.