The houses lining the narrow streets of Viseu are decorated in coats of arms, carved from the granite that is key to this region.  Each doorway has it’s own coats of arms. An archaeological site just outside of town commemorates how Roman legions were driven from the nearby mountains by a local chieftain, Viriato, considered Portugal’s first hero.

Even though it is far from the sea, the town is also full of art relating to Portugal’s great age of exploration, when the country had mastered the high seas and opened up worldwide trade routes. Prince Henry the Navigator, who was also the Duke of Viseu, lived here. 

The hub of Viseu is Cathedral Square, which has changed little since medieval times. The cathedral features twin towers, a Baroque altarpiece and the typical Manueline architecture, commemorating sea-faring Portugal, in the vaulted ceiling   The nearby Church of the Misericórdia is famous for its Rococo style façade and its beautiful cloisters.

The Quatro Esquinas (Four Corners) is a crossroads leading visitors to other historical sites, including the Porta do Soar, a gateway in the ancient city wall. The gateway leads to a main square known as the Praça do Rossio.