Torre

Welcome to Torre, the physical and symbolic apex of mainland Portugal. Standing at an altitude of 1,993 meters above sea level, we are at the summit of the Serra da Estrela. …

The center of this plateau is marked by the small, unassuming stone tower that gives the peak its name. This structure is a historical curiosity, built to bridge the seven-meter gap between the natural summit and the 2,000-meter…

The most visually striking modern features of the Torre plateau are the two large, spherical structures that dominate the skyline. These are the radomes, or radar domes, of the Portuguese Air Force's Squadron 11. …

In the shadow of the radar domes and the stone tower lies a cluster of buildings that serve as the commercial heart of the summit. Chief among these is the 'Estrela 1947' shopping area. …

Just below the main plateau of Torre lies the Vodafone Ski Resort, the only one of its kind in Portugal. While small by Alpine standards, it holds a massive cultural significance for the country. …

A short walk from the main summit area brings us to the monument of Nossa Senhora da Boa Estrela, or Our Lady of the Good Star. Carved directly into the granite rock face in 1946, this seven-meter-high bas-relief is a work of…

Away from the buildings and roads, the high plateau of Torre reveals a stark and fascinating ecology. This is an environment of extreme constraints: thin soils, intense UV radiation, and a short growing season. …

Our exploration of Torre has taken us from the historical ambitions of a 19th-century king to the high-tech surveillance of the 21st century, and from the sacred carvings in granite to the profane joys of mountain cheese and…