The HERIT-LAB project proposes the development of an innovative model for research, mediation, and valorization of urban heritage applied to the historic city of Braga, articulating Urban Archaeology, History, Geography, digital technologies, and citizen participation. Starting from the recognition that historic cities are spaces of high patrimonial and social complexity, the project seeks to overcome traditional models of heritage interpretation focused exclusively on material conservation or the unidirectional communication of scientific knowledge, promoting an integrated, collaborative, and territorially rooted approach.

Braga constitutes the ideal case study due to its exceptional historical continuity, from the Roman founding of Bracara Augusta to the present day, and the high density and diversity of its archaeological, architectural, and cultural heritage. The city presents a privileged context for testing new methodologies of heritage research and mediation, reinforced by its contemporary positioning as a cultural destination and its affirmation as the Portuguese Capital of Culture 2025.