or meeting point and will drive you to Aveiro and Costa Nova. On your way to Aveiro, the guide will give you insights regarding the Portuguese history, development and cultural facts of portuguese heritage.Before going up the hill to the top of Serra da Estrela, it's time for the first stop and visit. We will visit a traditional Queese farm where you will be able to learn about the production of this incredible cheese made of the Goat and/or Cow milk producted at Serra da Estrela. You will have the chance to taste the queese pairing with some homemade bread and local wine.In summer or winter, mainland Portugal’s highest mountain is the perfect scenery for a relaxing time in contact with nature.
At 1,993 metres at its highest point in Torre, Serra da Estrela is an area of rare landscape beauty, with striking mountain drops, where you can have a deep experience of the silence of the heights. Take advantage of those moments of communion with nature to observe it, discovering the diversity of plants and birds and the flocks of sheep herded by Estrela dogs from the breed named after the Mountain.
You can also follow the course of some major Portuguese rivers from their sources: the Mondego at Mondeguinho, the Zêzere at Covão de Ametade and the Alva at the Rossim Valley are breathtaking places. Or you can admire glacier valleys at Loriga, Manteigas or Covão do Urso and Covão Grande. In the warmest months, the best suggestion will certainly be the 25 Lagoon Itinerary, leading you to some refreshing locations.
In cold weather, Serra da Estrela is the only place in Portugal where you can try ski, or go sledging, snowboarding or ride a snowmobile. There are several pistes with support infrastructure, as well as synthetic snow pistes for skiing at any time of the year.The “Dam” of the “Lagoa Comprida” has been constructed started from a “Natural Lake”, and became so the principal water reserve of the “Serra de Estrella”, also the great hydro electrical potential was also one of the reasons to start the building of this dam.. The Lagoa Comprida is the biggest massif lake on this height and one of the first engineering works of this nature in Portugal, the building works started in the year 1911. From the street one you will see the great granite stone wall of the lake, the granite blocks were brought there by the “Glaciers” and called “Blocos erráticos” or “Traveling stones”. With a lithographical study of the stones they were able to reveal the origin of the stones as well the movement from the glaciers themselves. The lake was also a few years ago one of the places used for an official training off the “Fly-fish” teams who were participating on the World Champion ship of “Fly-Fishing”.Located in Seia, in the middle of Serra da Estrela, the Bread Museum is a museum complex where it's possible to do a short journey into the wonderful world of Bread. The visit is only possible on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
