The central region of Portugal is made up of two contrasting areas: the extensive the Atlantic coastline, where a temperate climate, white sandy beaches, pine forests beaches and fishing villages dominate and the countryside where forbidding mountains, rocky hills and stunning plateaus set the tone.

‘Beiras’ is the traditional name for the region running south of the Douro river and north of the Tagus river. In the heart of this hinterland rises the Serra da Estrela (Estrela Mountain Range), the highest in the country.

Nature has blessed this region with healing waters that in turn have given rise to spa towns, such as Curia and Luso. Monasteries, convents, castles and churches dot this spellbinding landscape whose artistic value and historical heritage have been acknowledged worldwide.

In the bigger towns, such as Coimbra, Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda or Castelo Branco, museum collections reveal treasures of unexpected quality. As for traditional arts and crafts, the coastal region has always been rich in glass working and ceramic skills, while inland artisans have traditionally worked with black clay, linen weaving, and copper and iron.

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