After a short drive to Waterford City, founded by Vikings about 1,100 years ago, begin your guided walking tour at the 'Viking Triangle,' at the city center. Stop along the way for interior and exterior visits to national monuments dating from 1190 to 1783, then pass Reginald's Tower, the strongpoint of the medieval defensive walls that enclosed the city until about 1700. Next, pass Greyfriars Franciscan friary en route to the Medieval Museum. The eye-catching giant sculpture on the gable was inspired by a tiny, 13th-century belt mount found in Waterford. Ireland's only dedicated medieval museum is also the only building on the island to incorporate two medieval chambers: The 13th-century Choristers' Hall and 15th-century Mayor's Wine Vault. Here you can observe a demonstration of how coins dating back to the Anglo-Norman age were made, and take home a souvenir coin. Your final stop is at the Bishop's Palace, which insightfully charts the history of Waterford from 1700 to 1970 and contains such artifacts as a mourning cross created after the 1821 death of Napoleon Bonaparte (thought to be the only surviving cross of its kind) and a piece of Waterford crystal produced in 1789.