The city
by micas_pt
Covilhã is a city built on the slopes of the mountain, meaning that most streets are not plain, you should be prepared to walk up and down a lot. My favourite part of the city it’s the interesting historical city centre, where you will find some beautiful churches and the town hall. This seems the bustling centre of city, and everything seems to happen from here. Other residential neighbourhoods built in recent years (eighties I guess) don’t seem so interesting, I must confess, as the city grew a lot and not in a beautiful way, I think. But the city is undergoing a refurbishment program, so let’s all hope it becomes more interesting in couple of months. Still, there are some old neighbourhoods left, and even though most houses are not well kept, driving or walking through those neighbourhoods will get you in contact with friendly locals.
The wool
by micas_pt
The wool manufactories have been a determinant factor on the growth of this city a few centuries ago. Since these manufactories need water, the city grew along 2 water streams. Also, they have become the most important economic activity of this place – I think I may say that this city used to live on the wools. The wool manufactory, that is nowadays the Museum, used to produce fabrics for the army’s clothes and still more important - for the Kings and Queens and all their court. Nowadays the Wool Museum is on of the best of its kind (worldwide) and the only one in Portugal.
Tourism Offce
by micas_pt
In Covilhã you may find a Tourism Office that will not only provide information on this city but also on the Serra da Estrela Region. The office is closed on Sundays and lunch break. The phone number is (+351) 275 322 170.
Shepherd's Dwellings
by Bwana_Brown
The slopes of the Zezere valley are not too fertile, having been bulldozed by the glacier as its slowly made its way along. Consequently, one of the main uses of the valley today is for sheep grazing on its slopes. Nestled in the valley floor, we saw several of these ancient stone dwellings used by shepherds. Very often, the roofs have to be rethatched from local vegetation after the ravages of a long winter in these peaks. Scattered along the valley floor are also huge boulders deposited by the glacier as it melted itself into oblivion thousands of years ago. This photo was taken from much further away than it appears by using a zoom lens.
Flowers
by micas_pt
While strolling around city centre, we came across this flowers in the streets. There are some tall flowerpots, in the shape of a triangle, all covered in these curious flowers we had never seen before – if you look closer they look like coloured cabbages!! We found them both in white and purple, and both like nice. After “discovering” these in Covilhã, we came across some others in villages nearby. I wonder what is their name?
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castle at Belmonte
STatue of Mary in the mountain
mapa_covilha
The Valley Floor
