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Sertã
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Belmonte Castelo Branco Covilhã Fundão Idanha-a-Nova Oleiros Penamacor Proença-a-Nova Sertã Vila de Rei Vila Velha de Ródão
Located on the left bank of the river Zêzere, at the heart of what is known as the «Pine Zone», the county of Sertã offers, besides the beauty of the landscape with rivers, streams and the lakes of dams decorating the enormous green extension, a cultural and historical patrimony displaying from Roman bridges and roads to Medieval castles and rich churches. The name of Sertã comes from the curious legend of Celina, the wife of a noble Lusitanian who, filled with rage after her husband was killed fighting against the Romans, advanced with a sertã (frying-pan) full of boiling olive oil towards the enemies at the castle's gates and forced them to retreat. At the seat of the county, it is worth admiring the Mother Church (15th century), in the Gothic style and with rich gilded woodwork and decorated tiles from the 16th and 17th centuries, the nearby Miserichord Chapel (16th-17th centuries), and the handsome 16th-century pillory, in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid displaying a Maltese Cross, an armillary sphere and the town's coat of arms. The second largest town of Sertã, Cernache do Bonjardim, also displays a beautiful Mother Church from the 16th and 17th centuries with fine painted tiles. Several dams at the county create artificial lakes surrounded by beautiful landscape and offering visitors different water sports, and the enormous extension of woods and pine forests are ideal for tranquil walks. Across the region, there are good liqueurs made with local fruit, such as cherries, plums, peaches and medronho (the pretty fruit of the strawberry tree).
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