Images of Portugal: Porta do Soar, Viseu
The Porta do Soar in Viseu is a granite gate leading to a maze of alleys close to Viseu's impressive cathedral (Sé).
It dates (probably) from the 15th century during the reign of Dom Afonso V. An interesting feature is an epigraph commenting on the brevity of human existence. It roughly translates as "Homo Bulla, that is, man like a bubble of soap is so light that he quickly vanishes into thin air."
On the interior side of the gate is a niche with a figure of São Francisco.
Viseu's other surviving city gate of the original seven is the Porta dos Cavaleiros.
An interesting place to stay nearby is a Portuguese take on a Japanese-style ryokan (traditional inn), the Viseu Ryokan - Hospedaria Japonesa & SPA, which is oppposite the Museu de História da Cidade.
