Page 211 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

air, a centre for sanatoria. It is the striking 15th­century Sé
is better known today for Porta do Soar de Cima, a ⌂ Largo da Sé § 232 436 065
two very disparate museums. remnant of the original # 9am–noon, 2–5:15pm daily
In the Museu do Caramulo, walls. In the Rossio, the main
the exhibits range from 16th ­ square, the 1887 town hall Museu de Grão Vasco
century Flemish tapestries, on the west side has a grand " ⌂ Largo da Sé § 232 422
porcelain, silver and ivory to stairway and azulejos relating 049 # 10am–6pm Tue–Sun
Egyptian bronzes from 1580 the history of Viseu. (from 2pm Tue) ¢ 1 Jan,
to 900 BC. The paintings are Viseu’s Sé, the town's Easter, 1 May, 24 & 25 Dec
as varied: from Portuguese cathedral, still retains a few
primitives to the 20th century. Romanesque features, but it
One of Picasso’s still lifes was has been altered over the
donated by the artist in 1947. centuries in a variety of styles.
The collection in the Museu The façade is a 17th­century
do Automóvel is just as eclec­ replacement of a Manueline DRINK
tic: Bugattis and Rolls­Royces, frontage that fell down in
and a bulletproof 1938 1635. Inside, the vaulted roof Paço dos Cunhas
Mercedes­Benz ordered for is supported by 16th­century de Santar
Salazar when he was prime knotted ribs on 13th­century The Dão valley is
minister but never used. columns. In the north chapel best known for its
are fine azulejos from the 18th quality wines. You
Museu do Caramulo and century, while those in the can visit many of the
Museu do Automóvel two­storey cloister date from estates on the Rota
" ⌂ Caramulo § 232 861 270 a century earlier. The cathe­ do Vinho do Dão
# 10am–1pm, 2–6pm Tue– dral’s treasury, housed in (www.rotavinhos
Sun (to 5pm Oct–Mar) ¢ 1 Jan, the chapterhouse, includes dao.pt), which has its
Easter Sun, 24 & 25 Dec a 12th­century Gospel and a head quarters in Viseu. A
13th­century Limoges coffer. good place to head is the
In the 16th­century former pretty village of Santar,
home to Paço dos
19 bishop’s palace abutting the Cunhas de Santar,
cathedral is the Museu de
Viseu Grão Vasco, exhibiting the a restored mansion
paintings of Vasco Fernandes offering wine
! E3 @ n Casa do Adro, workshops and tastings.
Adro da Sé; 232 420 950 (c 1475–1540) and his fellow
artists of the Viseu School. On  E3 ⌂ Largo do Paço de
The centre of the Dão wine­ the top floor are the master­ Santar, Santar § 914
growing region, this city is pieces that once adorned the 832 901 ¢ Mon
also packed with history. On cathedral’s chancel altarpiece,
the western side of this including Grão Vasco’s
regional capital’s old town monumental St Peter.

Woman resting
in the cloisters,
Viseu cathedral

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