Church of Oliveira do Hospital

The tombs in rock from Ançã

The statue of Cavaleiro

In the middle of rare diversity, appear 8 of the 10 Portuguese Histotrical Villages. Arquitectual jewels of granite, Linhares, Sortelha, Catelo Rodrigo, Castelo Mendo, Almeida, Castelo Novo, Idanha-a-Nova e Monsanto are the country’s living history. As are the former border line of castles of Sabugal, Belmonte, Guarda, Trancoso, Celerico da Beira, among others.

For over 800 years, wool and fabric has been made in the Serra da Estrela region. First manufactured, then as an industry, wool products left an enormous industrial arqueological legacy, mainly in Covilhã and also in Seia, Gouveia and Mantiegas. The Textile Museum of the Universidade da Beira Interior, in Covilhã, is the only exposition of an activity that existes today, with basis on advanced technology and which produces material for some world famous brands such as Christian Dior, Yves St. Laurent, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani.

The espectacular Valley of the River Côa, situated 40km north of the Serra da Estrela ( Pinhel and Foz Côa), show the most fascinating group of engravings from the Paleolitic Era that existe in the world. Recently discovered, these engravings corresponde to an rupestral art, in the open air, a rare situation to find from the Paleolitic period. Today, some of the principal centres are open to visitors.

Most of the principal Masters of the Oceans from 500 years ago, being them discoverers, explorers ou cosmographers, were born in the Estrela Region. Prophetically, the founder of the navegations, the Infante D. Henrique had his first major title as the Lord of Covilhã.

A região of country without sea or ports, saw the birth of various men decisive in all the major advances of oceanic discoveries at the time: the maritime route to India, to America, to Brasil and the world round trip:

Pedro Álvares Cabral:- Dicoverer of Brasil, born in Belmonte, where today still stands his castle and the image of Our Lady of Hope, which legend says, accompanied him throughout his journey;

Pêro da Covilhã:- Europe’s first great explorer of the Coasts of India, Arabia and Western Africa and as such, the preparer of the Voyage of Vasco the Gama;

Afonso de Paiva:- Collaborator of the voyage mentioned above.

Master José Vizinho:- Cosmographer of D. João II, was the first great investigator and latitude assessor on the high ocean. He was one of the envoys at the negociations of the Tordesilhas Treaty ( concluded in the medievil Manor- Houses adjunctive to the Cathedral of Guarda) and inspired the technique used by Columbus.

Rui Faleiro:- Organizer and Principal Scientific Preparer of the world round trip of Fernão de Magalhães (Magellan).

Fransisco Faleiro:- Cosmographer, he was the most studious in the assessment of longitude at sea.

Serra da Estrela. In the Centre Interior of Portugal, being the highest point in the Mainland Territory (2000m), emerges the most magical and diverse region of the country.

Welcome to the land of great mountain landscapes, legends of its’ castles, villages and medieval jewesses; welcome to the land that works wool products for over 800 years and which also show the most amazing group of world rupestral engravings (the Côa Valley).

Welcome to the land of one of Europe’s best Biogenetic Reserves (Malcata/Penamacor), of a sea of Cherry Trees (Gardunha) or the largest European Glacier Valley (Zêzere in Manteigas).

In Winter, go back up to the highest point of the Estrela ( the Torre), with its holiday and ski resorts, and glimpse at the lands where many of the greatest artefacts of the Discoveries were brought over the sea, from other worlds for the World, over 500 years ago.

This is a unique place, WHERE NATURE LIVES.

A time on the mountain is a time of purity, of wellbeing, along the Natural Reserve of the Serra da Estrela, the Serras of Gardunha and the Açor, the fertile plains of Cova da Beira, the Natural Reserve of the Serra da Malcata ou the Plateau of Côa, on a landscape with a face of granite, where your holidays have a taste of what’s the most natural in Portugal.

And on the highest Peak of the Serra da Estrela and Mainland Portugal is the Torre, full of snow and white from December until May, surrounded by holiday resorts in the high altitude of the Penhas da Saúde and das Douradas or the greatness of the Lagoa Comprida, the Lago Viriato, the Nave de Santo Antonio, and the monumental cliffs of the Cântaros, cut out by the springs and natural fountains of the biggest rivers in Portugal – the Mondego and the Zêzere.

Valued by many, it’s a journey through the vineyards of the Dão and the Beira Interior, tasting the wine in the cellars, the world famous cheese of the Serra in the cheesemongeries or the Cheese Fairs of Celorico, Oliveira do Hospital, Seia, Manteigas or Gouveia, with a slice of some rye bread.

Afterwards, the roast kid ( young goat), the trouts, the rice of carqueija ( tipical mountain plant), the bread soup of floury sausage, the various tipical sausages and the smooth sweetness of the requeijão ( regional cheese) with pumpkin jam, and so many other unforgetable tastes, complete the excellente flavours of the mountains gastronomy.

The pleasure of holidays or just a simple weekend on the Estrela, in the Summer or in the Winter, can be na encounter with nature, driving na All-Terrain vehicle, riding horseback, riding a bicyle or just taking a leisurely walk through the various tracks in unique and unforgettable landscapes.

The number of winter sportsmen that seek out the snow tracks of the Torre, grows with each passing year. Others prefer the emotion of the mountain climbing, launch themselves in the adventure in the sky from Linhares- the capital of Parapente ( cross between skydiving and hand gliding), or choose to take a helicopter ride or in a hot air balloon, to marvel at the breath taking scenery.

The joy of the open air is always present, whether your camping by the lakes of the Serra da Estrela or swimming in the small fluvial beaches of the river Mondego, the Zêzere and the Alva. Here, the fans of sport river fishing find the ideal atmosphere, while on the plateaus of Pinhel, Almeida and Penamacor, you can aim higher, at the release of the partridges and the pheasents, in the Hunting Reserves, or the hunt for wild boar.

And when the stars start to shine, the clear sky and the warmth of the bars and discoteques of Covilhã and Guarda, will culminate your stay in this land truly blessed by God.

Translated by: David A. Fidalgo

davidjs900@yahoo.com