Piornos Belvedere

Opened in 2022, Piornos Belvedere is located at the epicentre of a dazzling landscape of glacial valleys in Serra da Estrela.

This 1630 meters-high belvedere is a must-see attraction of the region of Covilhã. "Piorno" is the common name given to the plants commonly known as broom.

This new viewpoint was built on the slope of a granite tor, offering a unique and inspiring landscape shaped by ancient glaciers. From this site we get a good perspective of the main aspects of the glaciation of the eastern sector of the Serra da Estrela. We are close to the limit between the areas with and without Pleistocene glaciers. At the height of glaciation, glaciers occupied the whole area visible to the west, with the Torre plateau being an area of snow accumulation, from which several glacial tongues flowed out, channelled in the main valleys.

The metallic structure was adapted to the characteristics of the soil, fitting harmoniously into the landscape, seeking to minimise its impact on the site. It now appears as a new safe and comfortable balcony for visitors to observe the Nave de Santo António and the western plateau.

All the timeless splendour of Serra da Estrela providing a true time travel!

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