Seia

At the foot of the Serra da Estrela, Portugal’s highest mountain range, Seia is a small town of stone streets and mountain views. It is a natural gateway to the serra, with its trails, its cheeses and its winter snow, and its historic centre has a quiet charm of its own.

History and identity

Seia grew up at the crossroads between the Beira Alta and the mountains, and its old town preserves its pillory, its churches and its granite houses. The town has long been linked to the life of the serra, from shepherding to the famous Serra da Estrela cheese.

What to see and do

• The historic centre, with its pillory and old churches.
• The toy museum, one of the most original in Portugal.
• The Serra da Estrela, with its trails and viewpoints.
• The nearby villages and the bread museum of the region.

Gastronomy and traditions

Seia is one of the capitals of Serra da Estrela cheese, made from the milk of the mountain sheep, and its cuisine is the hearty cooking of the Beira Alta. The town’s festivals follow the seasons of the serra.

Nearby

Seia is the main gateway to the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, with its high plateaus and glacial valleys.

Visiting Seia

Seia is in the Beira Alta, in central Portugal, reached by road. Access to the town is free; for the museum and mountain conditions, check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-seia.pt.

Image credit: Seia, Portugal, by Mind Booster Noori, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.