History to tell
The Covilhã Museum is a central cultural venue located in a historic building designed by Ernesto Korrodi. From the 1920s to the 1980s, it housed the Banco Nacional Ultramarino. The museum follows an innovative and inclusive curatorial concept, prioritising accessibility and catering to diverse audiences.
The space allows visitors to explore the region, its people, and its history, encouraging reflection on the present and aspirations for the future. The exhibition is spread across five floors:
• From the First Inhabitants to Romanisation (3rd floor)
• Covilhã in the Middle Ages and the Modern Era (2nd floor)
• Covilhã as a City – Contemporary Period (1st floor)
• Covilhã: People and Heritage (ground floor)
The basement currently features five contemporary artworks from the Novo Banco Collection.
The museum is fully equipped with an external ramp, lift, tactile flooring, stair and handrail signage, rest areas, accessible unisex toilet with baby changing facilities, exhibition route signage, guide dog space, free WiFi, interactive resources, tactile materials, braille, multimedia design, and accessible furniture.
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The Museum of Sacred Art is housed in a building designed by Raul Lino. It was once the residence of Maria José Alçada, who gifted the space to the city for cultural use.
Created through a partnership between the local council and the Covilhã archpriestship, the museum allows the public to rediscover religious items no longer in worship.
Covering 850 m², the museum holds over a thousand pieces, including paintings, sculptures, metalwork, jewellery, and liturgical vestments. Key highlights include the Holy Wood Reliquary from the Church of Santa Maria, and a 16th-century Deposed Christ image gifted by João Fernandes Alvares Cabral to the Convent of São Francisco. Unique items like the image of Our Lady of Souls and the Child Jesus with a Top Hat also stand out.
In addition to its permanent exhibition rooms, the museum features a hall and outdoor courtyards for temporary exhibitions.
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The Wool Museum – also known as MUSLAN – is a centre of the University of Beira Interior (UBI), an institution with administrative and financial autonomy under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Science.
Guided by the motto “Threads of the past weaving the future,” the Wool Museum promotes an approach of active conservation of the heritage in its care. Through the uniqueness, authenticity, and exemplary nature of the objects it preserves, the museum offers a deeper understanding of one of the oldest industries in the world: wool manufacturing. Originally a means of survival for humankind, this craft evolved over centuries to incorporate artistic quality and technical sophistication, closely linked to societal development throughout history.
MUSLAN is a multi-site museum composed of the following core locations:
• Núcleo da Real Fábrica de Panos (Royal Cloth Factory), located on UBI’s Campus I, covering an area of 750m². Established in 1992 with its own funding, this nucleus was created to safeguard the dyeing workshops and the manufacturing complex initiated during the Pombaline period.
• Núcleo da Real Fábrica Veiga / Wool Industry Interpretation Centre, located by the Goldra stream. Acquired by UBI in 1997, this historic factory complex houses the museum’s headquarters, administrative and technical departments, as well as the permanent exhibition space dedicated to the industrialisation of wool production.
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Located in the heart of Covilhã, New Hand Lab is more than a cultural space—it is a center for creativity and innovation that connects the past to the future. Housed in a former wool factory, the space keeps the industrial spirit alive, transforming it into a dynamic platform where art, design, entrepreneurship, and tourism converge.
Here, artists, creators, and innovators are welcomed to bring their ideas to life, promoting innovative projects and valuing the region’s endogenous resources. We are part of the Portuguese Industrial Tourism Network, offering our visitors a unique journey through Covilhã’s textile heritage. Our guided tours reveal the behind-the-scenes of this creative space and the history that shapes it, while our shop offers exclusive products resulting from the talent of resident artists and partners.
In addition, New Hand Lab serves as a stage for cultural events, exhibitions, workshops, and private meetings, establishing itself as a vibrant and inspiring space in the Beira Interior.
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Currently, visits are available only by prior appointment.
From 24/03/2025:
Located in the village of Peraboa, this museum honours shepherding traditions and, above all, cheese.
The Cheese Museum aims to share traditions, the fertile lands, shepherds, flocks, and transhumance. It offers a sensory journey into Serra da Estrela Cheese and the plains of Cova da Beira, once known as the Valley of the Jews.
It is unique in Portugal, beginning with displays of the local fauna and flora in the Serra da Estrela region.
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Combining the recovery of historical heritage with the encouragement of cultural and artistic production, the Covilhã Municipal Theater (TMC) is a venue that brings contemporary and innovative forms of cultural interaction to the city and region. It aspires to be a national reference through a diversified artistic program and management that facilitates contact with creators, enhances educational services for new audiences, and creates artist residencies and synergies in support of cultural industries.
This Public Interest Property maintains its referential connection to Covilhã’s residents and the city’s contemporary history. One cannot fail to recognize, for example, the 1954 tapestry on the main staircase, designed by João Tavares, which symbolizes the arts of Cinema, Music, and Theater. The new Covilhã Municipal Theater, inaugurated in November 2021, has been completely modernized and is now ready for a high-level artistic program, meeting current demands and community standards.
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Housed in the restored Casa dos Magistrados, one of the most notable buildings in Covilhã’s Historic Centre, the António Lopes Gallery includes a room dedicated to the works of Professor António Lopes and a temporary exhibition hall.
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This house-museum in Paul village recreates the lifestyle of the local population. It has been restored while maintaining its original layout. Inside, you’ll find rooms with traditional objects and tools once used in daily life.
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Located in São Francisco de Assis / Barroca Grande, the Mining Museum is inside a former fuel tank – the “largest gasometer in the world.”
It was created by the local parish council with support from Sojitz Beral Tin and Wolfram Portugal S.A. (Panasqueira Mines), which donated a significant collection of mining materials.
Spread across three floors, the museum includes a viewpoint on the top floor to observe the active mining site. It offers a deep dive into the golden days of wolfram mining and pays tribute to the miners.
Visitors must register at the São Francisco de Assis Parish Council.
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Created by ARPAZ – a regional solidarity association – this centre brought new life to a traditional Beira Baixa building in Barco village. It has been adapted for exhibitions, leisure, and education, focusing on the Argemela Mountain and the Zêzere River.
Exhibition themes include “The Mountain and the Mines,” “The Land and the People,” and “The River and Its Banks.” The centre collaborates with museum networks to preserve and interpret local history and mining heritage.
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Located in the town centre, this space is seen as a place of memory. It consists of two buildings and uses displayed objects to share the traditional way of life in Boidobra.
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Honouring the Portuguese writer, this cultural centre offers various artistic activities to preserve regional memory and cultural heritage.
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This centre promotes the cultural heritage and identity of Sobral de São Miguel. It is a space where generations come together to learn, teach, and share traditional knowledge.
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Located in the birthplace of Monsignor Alves Brás, this three-storey museum portrays the life experiences and memories of this prominent local figure.
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This museum displays traditional costumes and items that tell the story of the Folklore Group and the ethnographic identity of Refúgio.
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