Church of Santa Maria is located near the medieval castle of Bragança. Inside the fortress walls of the castle, which attracts the attention of a high watchtower, there are many ancient monuments, and the church of Santa Maria is located near one of the outstanding monuments of Braganca Municipality Domus Munitsipalis.

The church was built in the XVI century and is considered the oldest church in Bragança. The temple is also called the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which are devoted to the image that is painted ceiling of the church. Locals still call this church Shrine of Our Lady Sardana, because the name of the church was the first church of Nossa Senhora do Sardana. Legend has it 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 dwelling place of green lizards" ("Sardana" with the Portuguese language means "green lizard").

Originally the building was built in the Romanesque style. In XVI-XVIII centuries were carried out restoration work, due to which the appearance of the facade of the church has changed, it has been added to the elements of the Baroque style. Deserves special attention the high altar and luxury, artfully decorated interior of the chapel of the temple. Some of the chapels date back to the XVI century. Inside the temple, three naves. Immediately attracts the eye barrel ceiling, showing the Assumption. The walls are decorated with paintings. The entrance portal is Baroque and decorated with two beautifully decorated with twisted columns. The side niches of the church of Santa Maria are also made in the Baroque style.