Description of the attraction
The Museum of Sacred Art is housed in the Viseu Cathedral, a beautiful structure from the Romanesque era. The museum's collection is spread over several floors, but most of the exhibits are concentrated in the Chapter House, whose walls are adorned with paintings of 18th century azulesush tiles depicting battle scenes as well as scenes from hunting life.
Among the exhibits on display in the Chapter House are two gold cases from Limoges of the 18th century, a monstrance made of ivory from the end of the 15th century, a Gospel of the 12th century, two chalice of gold and silver from the 17th century, and an illustrated manuscript on parchment from the 13th-14th centuries. Sculptural works deserve special attention, especially the sculpture of Saint Isabella of the 16th century and the image of the archangels Raphael and Tobias of the 18th century by the hand of the famous master Machado di Castro. All items in the museum's collection are arranged in chronological order, from the 13th to the 18th century.
In addition, visitors can see gold jewelry and church items used in worship, as well as priests' vestments, silk bedspreads embroidered with silver, and items embroidered with golden thread. The exhibits of the museum are of great historical value, among them - a Byzantine pectoral cross and a processional cross made of carved silver from 1754. Other interesting items in the museum include a wooden box from the Romanesque period with drawings depicting scenes from poetry about feats of knighthood.
