Covilhã

On the southern slopes of the Serra da Estrela, Covilhã rises in terraces above the valley, its white houses and old factories recalling a time when the city was one of the great centres of Portuguese wool. Today it is a lively university city and a natural base for the mountains.

History and identity

Covilhã grew around its castle in the Middle Ages and later became famous for its textile industry, which brought wealth and workers to the city for generations. Its historic centre, with its churches and old quarters, still shows the marks of that industrial past.

What to see and do

• The historic centre, with its churches and old streets.
• The textile museum and the memory of the wool industry.
• The city’s viewpoints, over the valley and the mountains.
• The Serra da Estrela, with its trails and high plateaus.

Gastronomy and traditions

Covilhã shares the mountain cuisine of the Beira Alta, with Serra da Estrela cheese, smoked meats and hearty stews. Its festivals and university life give the city an energy of its own.

Nearby

The city is the southern gateway to the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, with its glacial valleys and the highest peak of mainland Portugal.

Visiting Covilhã

Covilhã is in the Beira Interior, in central Portugal, reached by road. Access to the city is free; for museums and mountain conditions, check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-covilha.pt.

Image credit: Covilhã, Portugal, by Смок Вавельский, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.