Idanha-a-Velha is a village in the civil parish (freguesia) of Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, central eastern Portugal, and the site of ancient Egitânia, a former bishopric. It covers an area of 20.98 km2 and had a population of 79 as of 2001.
View of the village, with River Ponsul
Roman arch of Civitas Igaeditanorum
The former cathedral of Idanha-a-Velha and stork’s nest, as seen from the cemetery
Typical granite house
Idanha-a-Nova is a town and surrounding municipality in the district of Castelo Branco, in east-central Portugal. A border municipality with Spain, the population of the municipality in 2011 was 9,716, in an area of 1416.34 km2, making it one of the largest and least densely populated municipalities in Portugal as well as the first Portuguese municipality by population ageing. King Alfonso II (1211-1223) confirmed its charter in 1219 renaming the village with the current place names (Idanha-a-Nova) to distinguish it from the old Idanha, 18 kilometers away. The municipal holiday is the Monday 15 days after Easter. The incumbent mayor is Armindo Moreira Palma Jacinto, representing the Socialist Party.
Image: Vale do Ponsul
Image: Monsanto e Torre de Lucano
Image: Idanha a Nova(218)
Image: Catedral de Idanha a Velha
