Zebro belvedere

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the brand new Zebro belvedere, designed by Pritzker award-winning Portuguese architect Siza Vieira, beautifully placed in the region of Oleiros, one hour away from Castelo Branco.

Offering a 360 degree view over the surrounding natural landscape, this is the only work of the kind created by Siza Vieira, who found this endeavour quite challenging. In the architect's words: "This was not a project of suffering to find the solution, because the solution was found in the valley, in the void, in nature itself."

The name "zebro" is a reference to a wild temperamental horse that lived in the Iberian Peninsula until the 16th century. Zebro belvedere consists of a circular-shaped platform made of concrete with 15m diameter attached to the cliffs, rising 30 meters above the soil and 150 meters above the bottom of the valley.

In the surroundings there is a climbing wall and the belvedere is located in the UNESCO Geopark Naturtejo, a waypoint of the International Appalachian Trail, crossing the Appalachian mountain range. This is actually the only trail in Portugal integrated in the International Appalachian Trail.

Inaugurated in April 25th, the day that celebrates the birth of Portuguese democracy, Zebro belvedere is a true hymn to freedom and to the genius of one of the best architects of all times, Siza Vieira!

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