The ten Historic Villages of Portugal define as a whole, an area that involves the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain of Portugal. Area which covers the territories of Beira Interior and the border with Spain. They are representative of a rich cultural heritage-it is only one of the visible faces common to all of them, as their geographical surroundings, the resident populations, the harsh climate, the soil dry and contrasting natural paradises. 

If this whole region has been gradual desertification and human decline of economic activity, however not be contesting the high tourism potential that gives the same reason, displaying intact testimony of the built heritage, cultural and natural the more remote past. 

The Community ancestral habits can be, even today, presenciados in some of the villages, particularly in the agricultural sector. The mosaic rural visible in the region is a result of grazing and agriculture of subsistence, with production of brown, wine, olive oil and cheese as regional products. 

Other significant aspects in this geographical area and its population are defensive lines created by construction of numerous castles that can be visited and religion as a central element of the life of the people, something remarkable in many cults existing and processions. 

One common denominator is the view of the visitor, the rock and the landscape, buildings, mostly granite and some shale. This element leads to scenarios unique to the villages giving a character typical in the history that is not unrelated to its excellent preservation, the recent comparticipada Program Recovery of Historic Villages of Portugal.