Torre (Serra da Estrela)

Torre (English: "Tower") is a monument that marks the highest point of Mainland Portugal, and the second most elevated of the Portuguese Republic (only Mount Pico, in the Azores, is higher). It is located in a mountain range named Serra da Estrela, municipality of Seia, District of Guarda. This tower also gives its name to the locality where it is situated, the highest place of that mountain range.

The actual elevation of this area is 1,993 metres (6,540 feet), according to measures realized by the "Instituto Geográfico do Exército" (a military organ). Right in the highest point of this mountain range, situated at the middle of a fork, near a road that connect the cities of Seia and Covilhã, a geodesic mark that shows the highest point of the Serra da Estrela (named Torre), was built.

Near the Torre, there are a restaurant, stores with typical products of this region, like the Serra da Estrela cheese, and the Vodafone Ski Resort, situated in the municipality of Seia. However, the nearest urban area of this place is the city of Covilhã, 20 km (12.4 miles) away, and the nearest accommodations are situated in the village of Penhas da Saúde, 10 minutes away.

Sources

* [http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Serra-da-Estrela Serra da Estrela Forecast, Snow Report and Resort Information]
* pt icon [http://www.rt-serradaestrela.pt/ Região de Turismo da Serra da Estrela]
* pt icon [http://www.cm-covilha.pt/ Câmara Municipal da Covilhã ("Covilhã City Hall")]