Piódão
Piódão, Portugal
A schist village stacked in an amphitheatre on the slopes of the Serra do Açor, its slate-roofed houses clustered around a small white church. The access road is narrow and winding, so allow extra time.
Piódão lies on a steep slope of the Serra do Açor and is laid out like an amphitheatre. Its dark schist houses with schist roofs, stacked in terraces up the hillside, have earned it the nickname “schist nativity scene”. The village dates back to the 13th century and is first mentioned in the 1527 national census, when it had two inhabitants.
The parish church in the centre was remodelled in the 19th century under Canon Manuel Fernandes Nogueira, with a Neo-Baroque pediment; it holds a 15th-century limestone figure and tiles made in Coimbra. Since 1978 the village has been protected as a site of public interest. The Eira viewing platform gives an overview. The access road is narrow and winding, so allow extra time, and if you drive a large motorhome, check the route beforehand.
- Nearest town
- Piódão, Portugal
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 40.2152, -7.8209
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Portugal: Electronic tolls by number plate. Some motorways only have electronic tolls; register your plate or rent a transponder. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Parque de Campismo Ponte das Três EntradasCampsite11 km from Piódão
- Serra da Estrela-OesteMotorhome stopover14 km from Piódão · 6 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalFree
- Área de Serviço de Autocaravanas de Barril de AlvaMotorhome stopover14 km from Piódão · 20 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-FiFree
- Parque de Campismo de Janeiro de BaixoCampsite19 km from PiódãoTents
- Toca da RaposaCampsite21 km from PiódãoTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Parque de Campismo Municipal de ArganilCampsite21 km from PiódãoTentsCaravansShowersToiletsWi-Fi
All campsites in Portugal · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Piódão?
Piódão is in Piódão, Portugal, at GPS 40.2152, -7.8209. It is about 47 km from Linhares da Beira.
Can you camp near Piódão?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Parque de Campismo da Bica, about 9 km away; within 25 km there are 20 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Piódão?
Places worth a stop nearby: Serra da Estrela: Torre (21 km), Bussaco National Forest (50 km), University of Coimbra (51 km) and Conímbriga Roman ruins (59 km).
When is the best time to visit Piódão?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)