Covilhã

There was a Roman fort or settlement on a plateau half way up the Estrela mountains, called Sila Hermínia, which gave rise to Covilhã. It was always inhabited and was sacked and pillaged in many battles.

The first walls were built by King Sancho I and he gave the first charter in 1186. This was later confirmed by King Afonso II in 1217. King Dinis also renewed the charter in 1303 and enlarged the walls. King Manuel I gave it a charter in 1510. A royal decree in 1870 elevated it to a city.

There were lots of sheep in the area which made this a textile centre. The 2 streams, Carpinteira and Degoldra, running through the city provided the energy to run the mills. Covilhã grew and prospered and today is a modern city with lots of industry.

The old part has steep and twisting streets and vestiges of old construction can be seen. Stretches of the old city walls and Gothic entrances exist from the time when the city would shut up. The 1755 earthquake was felt here and a large portion of the walls were destroyed. The Marquis of Pombal used the stones to build the Real Fábrica de Panos (Royal Cloth Factory) which was a model to teach textile production. Today it is the University of Covilhã.