[citation needed] Viseu is a regional economic hub with a strong wine industry and is the seat of the international conglomerate Visabeira.

The origins of the city of Viseu date back to the pre-Roman period, with its name being reconstructed from the indigenous word 'Vissaîegobor' as *Vissaium, perhaps with a latinised suffix.

Roman colonists settled in these territories during eras of prosperity and peace, leading eventually to Suebic, Gothic and Muslim cultures.

[3] The Suebic peoples, by the middle of the 6th century, had already established a community, with a bishop that existed at the suffrage of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga.

The city became part of a fiefdom, when Prince Henry the Navigator, son of King John I of Portugal, was made Duke of Viseu, in 1415.

Surrounded by a number of mountains – Leomil, Montemuro, Lapa, Arada, Estrela and Caramulo – the tops of which are covered with thick layers of snow in Winter time, the district is crossed by a network of rivers and streamlets.

The Serra do Caramulo, located to the west of the city, plays an important role in climatic terms by lessening the influences of the western air masses (although the Mondego River's basin makes the penetration easier).

Consequently, Viseu's climate is characterized by the existence of high temperature extremes, with cold and wet winters and hot and dry summers.

[6] Its inland position and relative altitude contribute to cooler winters than in coastal areas of the country, with an average of 31 days with frost per year;[7] as well as a relatively large diurnal temperature variation and lower averages than more low-lying inland cities in the central-north area of the country such as Castelo Branco.

In spite of its inland position, the maritime influence is strong enough for there to be a seasonal lag resulting in September averaging similar temperatures as June for the 1981–2010 reference period.

[6] Administratively, the municipality is divided into 25 civil parishes:[10] Due to migration in the 1960s, Viseu suffered a great decline in its population.

Furthermore, Viseu is also known for local handicrafts which include black pottery, bobbin lace, embroidery, and copper and wrought iron articles.

Visabeira, a Portugal-based international conglomerate with interests in telecommunications, construction, industry, tourism, real estate and diversified services is headquartered in the city.