New Cheese Museum Opened

Thursday, 04 August 2011 00:00

On May 14, 2011  the town of Covilhã inaugurated the Cheese Museum and Town Hall of Peraboa. The only one in its region, the Cheese Museum allows visitors to understand the production process of some of the best cheeses in the world, appreciated and recognized internationally in both tourism and gourmet circles. In a 634 square meter area in the town of Peraboa, the Cheese Museum represents an investment of over 500,000 euros. The new space runs as both a museum and a gourmet cheese shop, which allows each visitor to experience something different. Included in the building are a reception and information area, themed rooms, 2D and 3D projections, interactive games, an indoor garden, a tasting room and a shop with recreations of the various activities from the field (shearing, milking, etc.).  An iron, wood and stone building, reconstructed by the City of Covilhã and enhanced with multimedia, visitors can get to know the methods and the environment surrounding the craftsmanship process of Serra Cheese (Queijo da Serra), as well as the techniques and even the tools used in order to create this delicacy. At the museum, it's also possible to get to know the characteristics of Kosher sheep cheese, produced in Peraboa according to Jewish rules. On the same day, the City inaugurated the Peraboa Town Hall. The construction includes the town hall headquarters, a post office, meeting rooms and multipurpose rooms for the Town Assembly, a kindergarten with cafeteria, locker rooms, a patio and other facilities. The project is valued at more than 342,000 euros. In the Teachers House Restaurant, the gourmet route associated with the Cheese Museum, there is a tasting of regional products. This equipment was opened in September 2009, and has been a strong driver for the town, allowing for the dissemination and preservation of both local cuisine and the Serra da Estrela cheese. It is set at a series of investments over 870,000 euros, which will greatly enlarge the town of Peraboa and the county of Covilhã.