Viseu (Portugal) in 1 day: essential places to see

The tourist attractions of Portugal They are not only limited to cities like Lisbon y Porto, or highly visited regions such as Alentejo o Algarve.

To the north of Lisbon there are other attractive places such as the cities of Coimbra o Aveiro, and towards the interior, in the center, the city ​​of Viseu.

Recently we have had the opportunity to take a route that has had this city as its central axis, and in which we have also visited other interesting places in its surroundings.

Next we are going to talk about Viseu, and which are the sites that you should know in your one day visit of this city of Central region of Portugal.

Where is Viseu in Portugal

Viseu It is the district capital of the Central region of Portugal and it is in the Beira Alta, in the central area of ​​the north of the country, in the so-called Viseu plateau.

when you get to Viseu You will see that the city is surrounded by a mountain system and a rugged relief that means there are an abundance of rivers and streams.

The slopes of three rivers mark the area, vogue, Dao y Paiva, the latter being the one that crosses the city.

You will see lush landscapes with trees full of vegetation and moss on their trunks, as well as huge stones between the trees that will undoubtedly catch your attention.

La Sierra de Caramulo is possibly the one that most influences the area, but there is also that of Montemuro and Estrella and Lousa mountain ranges.

Important populations located in the surroundings of Viseu are Home, Tondela, In them, Vouzela, with its delicious cakes, and Sao Pedro do Sal and its incredible hot springs.

Basically Viseu It is an agricultural and craft center with large areas of vineyards and olive groves.

In fact, this entire area belongs to the wine region demarcated from Dão that produces high quality wines.

Viseu It is also located at the crossroads of important roman roads, one of which comes from Mérida.

What to see and do when visiting Viseu for tourism

Viseu It is a city that allows you to get to know it by walking through its beautiful streets, so that in every corner you can discover a piece of its history.

Viseu, a city to walk around

The best thing is to start the tour with the Republic Square where the town hall, stop on your walk through the narrow streets of its medieval layout and see different parks, museums and churches.

You will discover 16th century houses with gargoyles and gothic windows on the Rua Direita and Rua Escura, as well as the place where one of the gates of the wall stood.

Among its alleys is the Museum of the History of Viseu, where you can delve into the roots of this beautiful city.

Upon arriving at the cathedral, in addition to visiting the monument, you can enjoy fabulous views of the Viriato Cava, which was a defensive construction made in the times of the Roman empire and which is currently a park.

Viseu It also has many green areas, such as Fontelo park or Ribero Aquilino Park, where you can relax among its vegetation.

In this regard you should know that Viseu also known as the garden city for the amount of flowers that adorn its squares and gardens, especially in spring and summer.

Viseu Cathedral in Misericordia Square

The building of the Viseu Cathedral It is located in the Mercy Square, Also known as Plaza de la Catedral, one of the most beautiful squares you will see in the central area of ​​Portugal.

In this magnificent place, in addition to the cathedral, there is the Church of Mercy, the Grao Vasco museum and the walk of the canyons.

In the center of the square there is a granite transept with the coat of arms of the Bishop Julio Francisco de Oliveira.

La Viseu Cathedral It is a Gothic building with two large bell towers on its main façade that give it the appearance of a fortified church.

The building as a whole has undergone many modifications throughout history, so it has examples of different architectural styles.

La facade de mannerist style It was erected in the middle of the 17th century to replace the previous one of Renaissance style.

On the façade you can see six niches with stone sculptures of the four evangelists, The statue of Saint Theotonius and the statue of the Patron Saint of Viseu.

La main chapel has an impressive golden carving altarpiece, where the image of the patron Saint Mary of the Assumption.

Don't forget to notice the pretty choir stalls which dates back to the 18th century and was made with jacaranda wood brought from Brazil,

Impressive the magnificent cathedral vault, with the ribs carved in the shape of a cross in the stone, as if it were a thick rope with a knot in the middle.

The walls of the sacristy are completely covered with polychrome tiles and paintings on the ceiling.

We also highlight the renaissance cloister that you will see after the entrance of the building, before entering the church, and the ceramics that surround the entire contour of it, in which the life of Saint Theotonius.

The cathedral is the city's landmark and you can get views of the entire complex from different points.

Here you have information with the Viseu Cathedral visiting hours.

Grao Vasco Museum in Viseu

Next to the Viseu Cathedral You can visit the Grao Vasco museum Located in the building where the old seminary was located, the Palace of the Three Steps Renaissance style.

This museum was founded in 1915 by Francisco de Almeida Moreira who dedicated much of his life to searching for Portuguese works of art.

This building underwent a major renovation in the early 2000s and contains a set of altarpieces from the cathedral and churches in the region, as well as deposits from other museums.

During your visit to the museum you will find works by the 16th century Portuguese painter Vasco Fernandes, better known as Grão Vasco, born in Viseu and to whom tribute is paid therein, as well as his collaborator Gaspar Vaz.

In addition to the religious objects and images, there are pieces of archaeology, Portuguese earthenware, oriental porcelain and pieces of furniture.

Church of Mercy

Right in front of the cathedral and with a very different architectural style is the Church of Mercy, which dates back to the 16th century, although it was later rebuilt in the 18th century.

It has a facade rococo with two bell towers and you will access the church through a wide staircase at the end of which you will find the entrance door with a balcony at the top.

Inside you will see three white and gold neoclassical altarpieces, the image of the Lady of Mercy in the center, and the sculptures of the Visitation and the Lord of Calvary to the sides.

It is worth taking a look at the pipe organ.

Balcony of the Canons

Through a granite staircase you can access the upper choir and the upper baroque cloister of the Viseu Cathedral.

From there you will reach Balcony of the Canons. which is a portico with columns also known as the Canons' Promenade.

This beautiful balcony is attributed to Francesco da Cremona, an Italian architect who only worked for the Italian bishop Miguel da Silva, introducer of rebirth in Portugal, hence its Italian inspiration.

The balcony communicates with the tower of tribute, which is the place where the parish priests reside and also where the Museum of Sacred Art of the Cathedral.

As a curiosity to tell you that there is the reliquary arm of Saint Teutonius.

Viseu Town Hall in Republic Square

El Viseu Town Hall is in the Republic Square o Rossio, which is the nerve center of the city, and from where you can walk to almost all the most significant tourist places and the commercial streets of the city center.

El Town Hall It was built in 1887 and is a beautiful, sober-looking building, with white walls and doors and windows framed in stone.

From the moment you enter you will be surprised by the beautiful wooden staircase decorated with colored tiles, as well as the paintings on the ceiling forming a square full of rose windows with important figures of the city.

The beautiful wrought iron chandelier will also catch your attention.

It is worth taking a walk through the square where you will enjoy a mural set of white and blue tiles, with drawings designed in 1931 by Joaquim Lopes, which represents activities of daily life in the rural world.

On the other side of the square is the Almeida Moreira museum, in which the library is located, as well as sculptures. furniture, ceramics, paintings and many objects that Francisco Almeida, along with the building. donated to the city of Viseu.

Bordering the walls of the museum is the Mother's Garden, where you will see beautiful vegetation and, in the center, a sculpture of Oliveira Ferreira dedicated to his mother titled “The best dream of our lives"

Park Aquilino Brook

The pretty Aquilino Ribeiro park It is located in the place where the Convent of San Antonio dos Capuchos, which ceased to exist in 1834.

Only two huge oak trees survive from that time. In addition to always being surrounded by flowers, pine trees, plane trees, lime trees and magnolias that give it great charm.

There is a lake with fish that live there all year round, as well as native plants within it.

After some modifications after its creation, the park is currently a sensory garden where blind people can touch, smell and feel the flowers, thanks to the characters braille.

Inside the park is the baroque church of the Third Order of Saint Francis, as well as a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Vitoria.

Church of the Thirds

La church of the Third of San Francisco It is located at the top of a beautiful and high staircase.

It is a baroque church Built in the 18th century, it is one of the most beautiful churches of religious architecture.

Inside the tile panels that narrate the life of San Francisco, the rococo altarpiece and the magnificent organ in the high choir.

From the top of the stairs there are some beautiful views of the Republic Square.

Street Art Festival, street art in Viseu

Since 2017, in Viseu During the first fortnight of May, a street art festival which means that the facades of many houses in the city now display large paintings, while various sculptures are installed in the parks.

It is a way of bringing art to the streets, and currently five farms and schools in Viseu open their doors to receive the artistic creations of the festival.

Facing your Viseu visit, here you have information about the different visiting points of the Street Art Festival Viseu.

Finally, a gastronomic tip: in your Viseu visit don't stop trying them wines and cheeses from the Dao region, as well as the magnificent Portuguese gastronomy with its cod prepared in a thousand ways, its rice dishes and its desserts.

Map: how to get to Viseu

The city of Viseu It is located one hour and 20 minutes by car southeast of Porto just over an hour northeast of Coimbra.