Viseu is the historic city where one of the most important Portuguese Renaissance painters, Grao Vasco, was born. In the local museum you can admire a large collection of his works.
The city has existed since Roman times and, like most of Portugal, it came under Moorish rule in the 8th century. During the Reconquista in the 12th century, they were recaptured from the hands of Muslims and a period of accelerated development began. One of the city's most important attractions, the Viseu Cathedral, dates from this time. Its Romanesque-Gothic body is adjoined by Renaissance cloisters decorated with azulejos tiles.
Visiting Viseu, you can also see the baroque church of San Francisco, the 15th-century city gate, and the remains of fortifications. The bishop's palace houses a museum dedicated to Grao Vasco and his work. One of the largest collections of this painter's works is located here.
