Barco

Barco is a lovely small village nearby Covilhã situated in a region of great natural beauty, in between the immense Estrela Mountain and the Gardunha Mountain, by the fantastic river Zêzere.

This is a region occupied by men since remote epochs, that found here the fertile soils and communication eased by the pleasant river.
The Roman civilization left here its mark, not only in the Argemela Mount (separated from the settlement by the river Zêzere) where was located a Roman camping, but also in the mines of wolfram and tin that were wisely exploited right until some years ago.

It is thought that the toponym derivates from an embarkation (“Barco” means “Boat”) that would make the access to both sides of the river.

Barco is proud of its typical rural mountainside streets and houses, filled with peace of mind and tranquillity, in between monuments such as the Mother Church, the Roman Fountain, the many “Alminhas” (a pagan small monument dedicated to the deceived with quite ancient origins) throughout the region, symbol of a great religious faith.