Covilhã

Covilhã is a city in the Castelo Branco district, located on the southeastern slope of Serra da Estrela at around 700 metres above sea level. It was one of Portugal’s main centres of the woollen textile industry, an activity that shaped its urban and social fabric between the 18th and 20th centuries. Today it combines industrial heritage, such as factories and workers’ neighbourhoods, with direct access to the mountain landscapes of the serra. It is a common starting point for visiting the Serra da Estrela Natural Park and the historic villages of the region.

What to see

• Museu de Lanifícios of the University of Beira Interior
• Historic textile factory and workers’ neighbourhoods
• Serra da Estrela viewpoint and Penhas da Saúde
• Santa Maria do Castelo church and city walls
• Hiking trails and nearby mountain villages