The small town of Vila de Rei, which translates to “King’s Town,” is 30 kilometres north of Abrantes and is a charming place set in a wonderland of pinewoods, lakes, running streams, and waterfalls right in the centre of Portugal.
The Picoto da Melrica, a monument that depicts the geodesic centre of the Portuguese Mainland, demonstrates how central the city is to Portugal.
The town is situated precisely in the geographic centre of Portugal, which is indicated by a tower on Milriça Peak, a small municipality surrounded by dense forest.
The tower, which is one of the most fascinating sights in central Portugal, is 600 metres (2,000 feet) high and was constructed to mark mainland Portugal’s geodesic, which is the location with the shortest distance from all other locations in the nation.
A small Geodesy museum highlighting its geographic significance is also located on Milriça Peak, which additionally provides the most breathtaking panoramic views ov
er a vast area. The Vila de Rei Council and the Portuguese Geographic Institute collaborated to create the museum, which includes a permanent exhibition, a small multimedia auditorium, and a café. It is situated precisely at the Portuguese Geodesic Center at the summit of Serra da Melriça.
It is worthwhile to admire the Miserichord Chapel and the parish church from the 18th century in the small town of Vila de Rei. Saint Michael Castro is a fortified and walled settlement that is thought to be of Celtic origin, dating from the Iron Age, and has been designated as a National Monument. It is located at the summit of the Ladeira mountains, at a height of about 493 metres (1,600 feet). A particularly stunning example of a shale village along the route that passes through Vila de Rei is Gua Formosa. Vila de Rei itself is well worth a visit to admire its lovely parish church from the 17th century, which is particularly notable for its exquisitely painted coffered ceiling.
The Penedo Furado is a natural wonder of Vila de Rei. It is a large, pierced boulder that has been changed to hold two belvederes on a rocky platform surrounded by woods and waterfalls.
The Knights Templar and the Order of Christ helped establish, protect, and develop Vila de Rei and its surroundings in the fourteenth century. King Manuel I later renewed the charter in 1513.
The neighbourhood of Castelo Branco, where Vila de Rei is located, is full of interesting historical and natural landmarks. The magnificent Castelo de Almourol, a fairy-tale fortress in the middle of the River Tagus, is one of Portugal’s most photographed castles, and visitors to the area can get up close to it. The historic city of Tomar, which is home to the Convent of Christ, is one of Portugal’s most significant landmarks, as are the towns of Abrantes, Constância, and others that are nearby.
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