Serra da Estrela Attractions
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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.
Penhas da Saude, Portugal
Leave Covilha on the N 339 going northwest the road, which is not well signposted, goes uphill to the right out of the center of Covilha by the town hall. Passing through dense woods it gradually climbs up to the mountain and winter sports resort of Penhas da Saúde (10km/6mi; 1,453m/4,767ft). With February temperatures of as low as -10°C/14°F the conditions here are very good for winter sports.
Torre
Past a reservoir, 10km/6mi beyond Penhas da Saúde, is the Torre or Malhao da Estrela (1,991m/6,532ft), Portugal's highest peak, topped by a granite monument.
Seia, Portugal
Seia (532m/1,745ft) farther northwest of Penhas da Saúde, and a total of 52km/32mi from Covilha, has a parish church on a hill with a view, overlooking the township.
Serra da Estrela, Gouveia, Portugal
13km/8mi after Seia, turn right off the main road on the N 232 for 5km/3mi to Gouveia (alt. 650m/2,135ft), a little town on the Rio Mondego and a popular base for exploring the Serra da Estrela. The facade of the parish church is covered in blue and white azulejos, as is the Misericórdia church, which is part of what was an 18th C. Jesuit abbey.
Penhas Douradas - Serra da Estrela
Beyond Gouveia the road winds its way up the rocky hillside, with ever more extensive views of the beautiful mountain scenery. After about 20km/12mi there is a sign to Penhas Douradas (formerly Poio Negro, 1,496m/4,908ft), a group of houses and holiday villas, a good walking and climbing base for the mighty rock faces, such as the "golden rocks" from which the place takes its name.
Serra da Estrela, Manteigas, Portugal
Beyond Penhas Douradas the road descends through the forest to the Pousada de Sao Lourenço (1,450m/4,755ft), with a superb view of Manteigas and the Zêzere valley, which the road eventually reaches via many a hairpin bend. Since earnings from textiles have dwindled to next to nothing Manteigas (720m/2,360ft, pop. 4,000) has fallen back increasingly on tourism.From Manteigas the route descends the Zêzere valley, past wooded slopes and cultivated fields and gardens, crossing the river on a narrow bridge just beyond Valhelhas. 23km/114mi from Manteigas it joins the N 18 from Covilha, turning left for 3km/2mi before the appearance of the houses of Belmonte.
Caldas de Manteigas
The spa of Caldas de Manteigas, with hot carbonic acid and sulfur springs (43°C/109°F), is in the upper Zêzere valley about 2km/1.25mi south.
Manteigas - Poço do Inferno
The Poço do Inferno, the springs of Hell, where a waterfall hurtles down into a cavern, lies 3km/2mi farther up the valley from Manteigas.
