I had no idea that I would live only an hour away from mountains of unearthly beauty! Picturesque reliefs stretch all along the border with Spain, but the highest range is in the center of Portugal - 300 km from Lisbon and 200 km from Porto.
I love visiting the mountain slopes of the Serra da Estrela. I've been to a lot of locations, but have yet to see all the local waterfalls and gorges, rivers and pools, villages and towns. The area of Star Mountain is about 1000 square kilometers. The Portuguese say it takes more than a year to explore this nature reserve well.
What if you don't have a free year? Take advantage of a few days off to see at least the juiciest mastas of Serra da Estrela. I've collected them in this guide.
A. Piodão village (Piodão)
I squealed with delight on the drive up to this place. Slate old houses descend down the picturesque slope. The white temple with fabulous turrets stands out strongly from its surroundings and is at the same time the cherry on the architectural cake. Charming!
Take a stroll along the cobblestone streets of Piodan, with streams flowing along them. Look at the houses, whose window frames and doors are painted blue. Walk down to the river water pool. Sample the local cuisine at the colorful o Fontinha restaurant and taste Piodan infusions.
Here you can relax from the noise of the city, enjoy the solitude and beauty of nature. And how great it is in this place in the evening! Silence, starry sky, lights of lanterns - romance!
The best location for admiring the village is the Inatel Hotel. You can spend the night there. But there are other options on booking.
B. Foz d'Égua River Beach (Praia Fluvial de Foz d'Égua)
This beach is located 5 km from Piodan. It is a short walk from the village. My husband and I call this place "paradise pool". The scenery at Foz d'Egua is unbelievable. Emerald water on the background of slate bridges, mountain slopes and ancient buildings, green trees and bright flowers - fantastic!
The mountain streams in Portugal are not particularly full of water. Lakes are formed here with the help of dams. The Foz d'Egua beach was created by a man-made barrier. Two streams flow into the reservoir. The water in them is ice cold. But when it's over 30 outside, you really want to refresh yourself. It was difficult for me to gradually enter the cold water, so I jumped in with a rush.
Climb the steps that lead up to the overhead bridge and above. The path is not as difficult as it seems at the start. At the hawk you will get such a view that your strength will immediately replenish. At the top is an altar that can be accessed by a small suspension bridge.
С. Loriga River Beach (Praia Fluvial de Loriga)
I was here in winter, so there are no people in my photos. If you come here in summer, be prepared for a large number of tourists. But don't worry: there is enough room for everyone in the multi-level pool, which was built on the cascade of a mountain river.
Loriga beach is located in a glacial valley. It is a unique location for Portugal. The water here is crystal clear and, of course, cold.
Literally one kilometer from the beach is an authentic village. There you will find restaurants and hotels. If you have time, take one of the mountain trails - there are all the necessary signs in the vicinity.
D. Marques da Silva Dam (Barragem Marques da Silva, Lagoa)
I have never seen such a huge dam before. The height of the structure is 29 meters, the length along the crest is 1200 meters, and the volume is 100 thousand cubic meters. The main reservoir of the Serra da Estrela began construction in 1910. Later, the height of the dam was increased three times. This place is used as a hydroelectric power station.
E. Covão dos Conchos (Covão dos Conchos)
You have to walk to the next artificial lagoon - you can't get there by car. The 4.5 km journey will be very scenic. You will see the Marquesa da Silva dam from above, streams will flow under your feet, and at the end of the road you will see a real miracle - an underground waterfall.
This funnel was built in the 50s. The pipe, 4.6 meters high, directs water to the main storage area through a special tunnel. Yes, it is a man-made creation, but it looks mesmerizing!
F. Tower of the Serra da Estrela (Torre Serra da Estrela)
It is located on the highest point of mainland Portugal - 1993 meters above sea level. The seven-meter structure allows you to reach the cherished two thousand.
In clear weather, from the top of Serra da Estrela you can see not only the mountain valley, but also the ocean, which is about 100 km away.
In winter, snow falls on the Serra and water bodies are covered with an ice crust. The white shroud lies on the summit until about May. Here is the only ski resort in Portugal. The slopes are not steep - just right for beginners.
There's an abandoned observatory by the tower. I heard that in the next few years the Portuguese will restore it. In the meantime, the place looks like a movie set for a post-apocalyptic movie.
Hungry? There is a restaurant and a mini market nearby. Be sure to try local cheeses and meat - they are considered a delicacy.
G. Our Lady of the Good Star (Nossa Senhora da Boa Estrela)
The seven-meter high altar of Nosa Senhora da Boa Estrela was decided by the parish priest in the 40s. He wanted the monument to the saint to be seen by as many people as possible, so he placed it on a rock next to Torre.
There is a legend that a star in the form of a woman descended from heaven to a lonely shepherd who lived on one of the slopes of the Serra da Estrela. She communicated with him every night and became his guide and protector. Now Our Lady of the Good Star is the patroness of all Portuguese shepherds.
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H. Covão d'Ametade (Covão d'Ametade)
If you are looking for a picnic spot, this is the best location! The size of the recreation area allows you to organize even a large camping party.
A cozy park with tables and barbecues has been set up in the former excavation of the glacial valley. It is green and always offers shade. Covan d'Ametada is the source of the Zezere River and has its own waterfall. The area is protected by high granite peaks.
I. Caldeirão Dam (Barragem do Caldeirão)
I want to show you a steep hiking route. Its length is 11.7 kilometers. The entrance to the Mondego Causeways is free, but you need to buy an electronic ticket - the guys at the start will explain everything, the main thing is that you need to have internet. The track is not circular. To get back to your car, you can take a cab at the end point. Find out the phone number of the service at the start - in case there is no free car at the finish.
It is convenient to start from the Caldeiran Dam. Here you'll climb 600 meters of steps. Fortunately, it's downhill. That's why I recommend starting from this side. At the other end, at the village of Videmonte, there are also steps, but they are easier - it will be very important at the finish line after a long road.
Further on you will find mountain rivers and waterfalls, hills and valleys, mills and abandoned factories, suspension bridges and wooden paths fixed right on the slopes.
It took us about 5 hours to complete this route. At the end, I was happy with every mark that brought me closer to the finish line. Even though I was very tired, I was happy that I had made it all the way.
There is a restaurant at the second kilometer of the route. Along the way, I also saw a popcorn stand and a honey shop. The next place to eat is in the village of Videmonte. If you decide to head there, check out the home bakery - they make delicious bread according to an old recipe in the oven. I've added the marker to the map.
J. Linhares da Beira (Linhares da Beira)
This 12th century village is an open-air museum. Medieval architecture is combined here with elements from the later period - the 16th and 17th centuries. Climb the walls of the ancient fortress for a bird's eye view of the villages.
For construction, the locals used granite, which the region is rich in. The walls of the buildings are sometimes made of boulders - very unusual. The window openings in some houses are decorated in the elegant Portuguese Manuelino style.
Wandering through the cobblestone streets of the village, you will see not only ancient temples, but also a prison with a pillar of shame, to which they tied for minor offenses.
Linhares is considered a tourist destination, so it is easy to find accommodation here. There are several restaurants and souvenir shops in the village.
To see all the points I've described in this guide, it's better to allocate three or four days for the trip. If you want to spend more time in Serra da Estrela, write in the comments and I'll tell you what else is worth seeing.
