Unhais da Serra, called by some “The Pearl of Beira” by others “Sintra da Covilhã”, 23 km from its county seat, is located in a valley dug in the granites of Estrela by glaciers, it begins on the plateau of the Tower at 1991 meters of altitude, seeing its conclusion at an altitude of 500 meters in the place of Taliscas.
Situated on the slopes of Serra da Estrela, the former parish of Santo Aleixo was a priority for the presentation of the Sé da Guarda. It currently comprises the following places: Terça, Terra da Senhora, Unhais da Serra and Várzea.
Its population, although the documentation is not abundant, dates back to proto and prehistoric times. Taking advantage of the steep cliffs that surround the best of the parish – its fertile valley, the oldest populations here built a primitive fort, which was certainly Romanised. The name Unhais itself means old village par excellence. And the spatial conditioning of the parish could even be at the origin of toponymic persistence. Hidden between the great folds of Serra da Estrela, it would be natural that there would always be a population here. A fertile valley, where there are several springs of thermal waters, favoring fixation comfort, would come to be explored when the Roman civilization arrived in the Iberian Peninsula.
There are several springs that, scattered throughout the village, spring violently and abundantly throughout a large part of the valley of Unhais da Serra; it also has a spring of iron waters.
North of Unhais da Serra is the Thermal and Climatic Resort, whose waters flow at 36,000 liters/hour with a temperature of 37º, being therapeutically indicated for diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems, for rheumatism and skin diseases. These waters have as main properties to be moderately mineralized with alkaline reaction; bicarbonates, sodium, fluoridated, sulphidic and sulphated.
Unhais da Serra experienced its great thermal tourist season at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, being at the time known as “Pérola da Beira” or “Sintra da Covilhã”. The conversion of the residence of the Conde da Covilhã, by himself, into the Grande Hotel de Unhais da Serra, with the “Casino” attached, with spacious dance halls, billiards, tricks and buffets. It contributed to the strengthening of local tourism, aimed at the time at the relatively large class of owners and textile industrialists in the region.
Currently, Unhais da Serra continues to be considered an excellent thermal village, bringing hundreds of tourists to Unhais da Serra every year. In addition to the hot springs, there are other places that, due to their natural beauty, attract the interest of tourists.
Patrimony
Church of Santo Aleixo (main)
Chapel of Our Lady of Health
Castro do Alto de Aboaça
Cruzeiro Viewpoint
Sections of the Ribeira de Alforfa and Malhão da Estrela (Torre)
Covão do Ferro
Water Powered Mill in Ribeiro dos Portos
Cruzeiro
