Viseu — meaning ‘a good view’ in Latin — sits between the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo Mountains in the Centro Region of Portugal. The city’s position in the heart of the Dão wine region, has long made it popular with food and wine aficionados, who can use the best places to stay in Viseu as a springboard for tours and tastings at nearby wineries.

Originally a Lusitanian stronghold, the city has experienced periods of Moorish and Christian rule, becoming a prosperous trading centre from the 14th century. Amble around the Centro Histórico, marvelling at the imposing Cathedral de Viseu on the Adro da Sé square, peering up at the Rococo-style Church of Our Lady of Mercy, or picking a perch in a sunlit café for a mid-morning pastry. The Museum Grão Vasco, housed in the 16th-century Bishops Palace, is fascinating; as are walking tours of lanes lined with medieval churches, elegant residences and smart boutiques.

Viseu’s university ensures that the city also has a lively buzz, with great bars, exhibitions and evening performances held in venues across town. Venture into the surrounding countryside to sample top Dão region wines — or share a bottle at one of the best places to stay in Viseu.