Railway linking it to Guarda via Belmonte. However, for twelve years it was closed for modernisation and electrification. The works, originally due for completion in 2011, were finally completed permitting reopening of the 46 km line to Guarda in May 2021 after serious funding issues due to the weakness of the Portuguese economy. A bus network – Transportes Urbanos da Covilhã – covers the entire urban area as well as the outskirts of the city, making it easy to travel both within and outside the city limits, although the buses are infrequent (not less than 1 hour between buses). Several bus lines serve university buildings. Cabs are also an option. They are painted cream (mostly black these days) and sometimes have a roof-light to identify them. In town they use taximeters, but once outside urban boundaries the service is charged per km. Notable residents Pêro da Covilhã (ca.1460 – after 1526), a Portuguese diplomat and explorer. Mateus Fernandes (15C - 1515) a Portuguese architect, worked in the Manueline style Rui Faleiro (late 15C - 16C) Portuguese cosmographer, astrologer and astronomer who was the principal scientific organizer behind Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the world. José Sócrates (born 1957) brought up in Covilhã, Prime Minister of Portugal 2005 to 2011, accused in 2014 of corruption, tax evasion and money laundering, on going trial. Eugénia Melo e Castro (born 1958) a Portuguese singer-songwriter. Adolfo Mesquita Nunes (born 1977) a Portuguese jurist and politician Miguel Gonçalves Mendes (born 1978) a Portuguese film director, screenwriter and producer. Sport César Brito (born 1964) a retired footballer with 260 club caps and 14 for Portugal Hélder Godinho (born 1977) a former footballer with 291 club caps João Real (born 1983) a Portuguese former footballer with 313 club caps Renato Margaça (born 1985) a retired footballer with over 400 club caps and 21 for Cyprus Nuno Coelho (born 1987) a retired footballer with over 430 club caps Sérgio Paulico (born 1991), footballer Politics The present mayor is Vitor Manuel Pinheiro Pereira, elected by the Socialist Party. International Relations Covilhã is twinned with: Trelew, Argentina Berstett, France Roubaix, France Santarém, Portugal Oeiras, Portugal Madalena, Portugal Laleia, East Timor Praia, Cape Verde Gallery See also Centro, Portugal University of Beira Interior References External links Covilhã's City Hall official website Fórum Covilhã Photos from Covilhã Covilhã's Blogue Cities in Portugal Populated places in Castelo Branco District Municipalities of Castelo Branco District