Skiing in Portugal

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Although you may think the only kind of skiing you could try out in Portugal is water skiing you would be wrong. At the top of Portugal's highest peak in the Serra da Estrela mountains there is a popular ski resort.

Located at Torre, 1,993 metres above sea level, is Portugal's only ski resort and does have a rather short ski season lasting only a few weeks.

The resort has the name Torre (Tower) due to a past king of Portugal (Dom João VI ) insisting a building be constructed to raise the height of the place to a more impressive 2,000 metres. The tower still exists and can be seen from the resort.

The resort in comparison to its European neighbours is quite small. The slopes have four ski lifts. Though there are runs set aside specifically for snowboarding, sledging and novice skiers.

SkiParque is a newly installed dry ski slope at Manteigas in the Serra da Estrela mountains. Open all year round it gives ski-fans the opportunity to hone their skills on the slopes ready for the first fall of snow. Prices start from 10€* an hour in the low season and 14€* in high season (*prices valid until August 2007).