Serra da Estrela

Famous for its scenery as the "star mountains", the Serra da Estrela is a mighty granite ridge which extends for some 100km/60mi, with a breadth of 30km/20mi, from Guarda to south of Coimbra. It is Portugal's main watershed range, formerly the southern frontier of the country and historically the dividing line between its north and south.

Topography

With its bizarrely shaped crags and gorges, mountain streams and lakes, beautiful forests and magnificent views, the Serra da Estrela ranks among Portugal's outstanding scenic attractions. The range contains the country's highest peak, the Torre or Malhao da Estrela (1,991m/6,532ft). The bare hills provide grazing for sheep and goats, and the valleys have a centuries old woolen