Serra da Gardunha

The pleasant little hill town of Alpedrinha (alt. 555m/1,855ft), about 30km/19mi along the Castelo Branco road to Covilha, is a good starting point for walks in the Serra da Gardunha. There is a lovely walk from here to the Penha da Senhora da Serra (hermitage), with beautiful panoramic views, and then on to the Pirâmide (1,223m/4,013ft), the highest point in this range of hills.

The Pirâmide can be climbed from the picturesque hill village of Castelo Novo (700m/2,300ft), below the hermitage and boasting an 18th C. town hall and a Manueline pelourinho both of which are worth seeing.

The chief place in the Serra da Gardunha is the little town of Fundao (alt. 496m/1,627ft; pop. 6,000), 45km/28mi north of Castelo Branco in a fertile fruit growing region on the northern slopes of the hills, with an old established textile industry. It has two attractive churches, the parish church of the Misericórdia (18th C.) and the chapel of Sao Francisco.