Vila Cova de Alva

A noble village of exemplary dignity, characterised by the scale of its buildings and public spaces. The river Alva, which flows in the valley below, glistens with purity and freshness. All around stand the mountains that encircle and protect Vila Cova de Alva, inviting a stroll in the dappled shadow of their lush vegetation.

This is the Schist Village which has the largest number of monuments and historic buildings, due to the fact that a religious order established a monastery here. Stroll or rest in the village’s public spaces such as Largo da Igreja Matriz and Largo do Pelourinho, where there are two 17th century mansions. Discover the many religious and civil monuments such as the manor houses Solar dos Condes da Guarda, the building of the Osório Cabrals or the 16th century street.

And then there is the river Alva with its river beach, a refreshing temptation on hot days.

Vila Cova de Alva is a village of considerable size, with many new buildings surrounding the central core. The road that passes by the very old Church of São João de Alqueidão and heads in the direction of the crossing point of the Alva, provides the structure for the village layout. The line of the EN342 changed the urban fabric, which then became established alongside this road, saving the old village centre from modern development.

The predominant building material is schist, with granite used for the finer details of buildings, mainly in the door and window openings – door posts, lintels, sills and window sills. Almost all the facades are rendered and painted white. A meandering street almost exclusively composed of Manueline doors and windows transports us to 16th century.