Aldeias historicas de Portugal
Aldeias historicas de Portugal is a group of 12 historic villages located in central Portugal. The association aims to promote the Historic Villages of Portugal preserve the history as well as promote socioeconomic growth of the local region. Starbase18 is located in the center of the 12 villages and therefore can be your central base when visiting one or more of the historic villages.
Aldeias historicas de Portugal
The Historic Villages of Portugal (Aldeias Históricas de Portugal) is a private, non-profit association founded in 2007 to promote and manage a network of twelve ancient villages across Beira Interior and Serra da Estrela regions. Its mission is to develop sustainable tourism, preserve heritage, and stimulate cultural and economic vitality in these rural regions.
Starbase18 can be found just in between Linhares da Beira and Belmonte
Explore All 12 villages or find them on the interactive map
These twelve unique villages: Almeida, Belmonte, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Novo, Castelo Rodrigo, Idanha-a-Velha, Linhares da Beira, Marialva, Monsanto, Piódão, Sortelha and Trancoso are spread across ten municipalities. Each village is known for its medieval architecture, historic stones, and a strong sense of rural identity.
The association’s core objectives include managing and promoting the "Historic Villages of Portugal" brand, enhancing the quality of the tourism product through strategic planning and promotion, encouraging cultural heritage dissemination, attracting investment, and fostering human resource development in the region.
Its long-term development vision aligns with European sustainability goals. Under the PROVERE 2030 Collective Efficiency Strategy, the association emphasizes preserving endogenous resources, climate transition, economic diversification, and innovation, securing a resilient future for local communities.
Technology and inclusivity are also central to the association’s efforts. They have deployed free public Wi-Fi, developed a mobile app with georeferenced content and multilingual audio guides, and implemented an ambitious network of 46 cycling routes spanning 3,500 km to improve access and promote active mobility among visitors and residents.
Furthermore, Aldeias historicas de Portugal is engaged in heritage regeneration and local empowerment through training programs, educational initiatives, and support for micro-business development in tourism-related sectors. These efforts boost local capacities while maintaining the authenticity of each village.
