COVILH

city and concelho (township), Castelo Branco distrito, east-central Portugal, on the southeastern slopes of the Serra da Estrela, overlooking the Zzere River, east of Coimbra. The city originated as the Roman Silia Hermia. It was destroyed by the Moors and was rebuilt (1186) by Sancho I. Made a city by decree in 1870, it is now a major textile (especially wool) centre and a marketing point for the fertile Cova de Beira Basin. A polytechnic institute is located there. Covilh is one of the few winter-sports resorts in Portugal. Pop. (1981) city, 21,689; concelho, 60,916.