Unidade de Hemodiálise da Covilhã | CDBI

Central Portugal: A region of contrasts

Between the sea and the interior, we will find stories of people and cities, a unique cultural heritage and a wide range of experiences that inspire us for a longer visit. Traveling in Central Portugal is traveling in time. It is traveling through the World Heritage, as are classified the Monastery of Alcobaça (where the love between D. Pedro and D. Inês de Castro rests), the Monastery of Batalha (a symbol of gratitude for Portugal's independence achieved in the Battle of Aljubarrota), the Convent of Christ in Tomar (with its six centuries of construction) and the University of Coimbra, with its strong academic traditions and the famous Coimbra song, so closely linked with the city.

When we talk about Central Portugal we talk about mountains. Every season of the year leads to Serra da Estrela, where there is snow for skiing and sun for hiking on the more than 300 km of trails in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. The highest and most famous mountain in Portugal is Serra da Estrela, district of Guarda, the first Portuguese municipality to be listed by FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization), as "Mountain Territory".

Furthermore, you can also venture into Serra do Caramulo, the protected landscape of Serra do Açor or the monumental treasures of Serra da Lousã.

Talking about the Center Portugal is also to talk about Fátima and faith. World renowned as a place of worship, Fátima was consecrated with several Apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima, witnessed by three local shepherd children. 

From Abrantes, in Ribatejo to Covilhã cheese

Central Portugal is the center of exceptional places. The castle of Abrantes (where NephroCare Abrantes is located - the other clinics in the Central Region are in Entroncamento, Coimbra, Guarda, Viseu, Covilhã and Tomar) is the ex-libris of the picturesque town, also known as the Flower City, thanks to the master gardener Simão António Vieira who was responsible for the gardens. In Entroncamento, you must visit the National Railway Museum: a 4.5-hectare area unveils true national treasures, fantastic machines with stories of Portugal's trails. And in Covilhã, let yourself be guided by the smell and taste of cheese. At the Cheese Museum, in the village of Peraboa, stories are told in honor of the men and women who dedicated themselves to pastoralism. The Covilhã cheese is just delicious.

Happy in the Viseu Dão Lafões region

Viseu was once considered one of the best cities in the country to live in. There are plenty of reasons to visit the region that inspired Viriato to defend Lusitania from the Romans! One of the reasons is Cambarinho Pedestrian Trail, a trail of approximately 1.5 km that preserves a magnificent specimen of Portuguese flora, known as “loendro” - oleander. And finally, there is the wine: Viseu is the birthplace of the Touriga Nacional grape variety.