The old district capital of Viseu is on the left bank of the Rio Pavia, set in woodland in the famous Dao region. It is an important center for agriculture (grain, fruit, livestock) and crafts (lace, carpets, black pottery). In the 16th C. Viseu had one of Portugal's most important schools of painting,
foremost among them being the landscape painter Gaspar Vaz (d. 1568) and Vasco Fernandes, known as Grao-Vasco (d. 1542), who was born here.
Townscape
Its handsome Renaissance and Baroque mansions and palaces, narrow alleys paved with granite sets, flights of steps and intriguing corners lend Viseu a particular charm.