It is officially open the season of Christmas lunches and meetings and in the Postcrossing already began to celebrate. The 9th portuguese Christmas Meeting was held last weekend in Viseu. I made it this time!! It was me and 23 postcrossers + husbands, wives, grandchildren, boyfriends, etc. A lot of people gathered around the postcards.
Speaking of postcards, we had an official postcard, which I sent to me. Sofia was also at the meeting and, surprise, she also sent me a postcard.
Imagem by Cristovão Cunha * the Postcrossing logo is a registered trademark
The biggest surprise for me was when they started to sing Happy Birthday to me at lunch. As if that wasn't enough, they also surprised me with a birthday cake and a postcard signed by everyone. It was (almost) a teary moment. If any of them is reading this, thank you again!!
Although I don't live far from Viseu, I don't know the city very well. In the postcard that Sofia sent, you can see some of the points of interest of Viseu.
www.edigpostal.com
Occupied since the Castro era, the History of Viseu is closely connected with the History of Portugal. If the mythical figure of Viriathus, the warrior who led Lusitanian tribes against the Romans, gave the old city vital importance during Roman times, King Afonso Henriques, the first Portuguese King, established a close connection between the first years of the foundation of the country and this noble Beira Alta city.
It’s not possible to separate Viseu from the History of the country, but the arts also owe much to the birthplace of Vasco Fernandes whose works are a symbol of the scholarship and excellence of Portuguese Renaissance. This famous 16th century painter is the figure who left the greatest artistic heritage in Viseu and the Grão Vasco Museum gathers a considerable collection of works from this artist, keeping his memory alive in the city.
The city also had a golden age for religious art and architecture as proven by the great number of churches decorating the old town, the Religious Art Museum and the Cathedral itself which is one of the most symbolic buildings in Viseu and shows the importance of this Beirã city as the seat of the diocese.
Viseu Cathedral is actually a great starting point for a visit to the city. In the cathedral churchyard, one of the most interesting places in the old town, you will find, apart from the Cathedral and the museums, Misericórdia Church, the pelourinho and Passeio dos Cónegos. Here you will often find dark granite, typical in the region, surrounded by contrasting white and seemingly immaculate façades. Then, continue your visit until you reach Rossio, where you will be able to relax and enjoy green areas, or you can follow the traces of the defensive wall built by King John I which was only finished during the reign of King Afonso V and can still be seen beyond the Cavaleiros and Soar Doors. - in: http://www.centerofportugal.com/viseu/
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