Portugal

Nelas is a small town in centre of Portugal near the highest mountain of the mainland country – Estrela Mountain.

Situated in the center of the Dão Region, the county of Nelas (14000 inhabitants) enjoys a privileged location, surrounded by green landscapes with pines, olive trees and vineyards. Having a rich and varied heritage, this region is well-known for its famous and exquisite wines as well as its excelent gastronomy. In the farms and cellars tourists can enjoy many enotourism experiences.

In the county there is also a termal hot spring resort composed of modern facilities aimed at health, well-being, balance and beauty treatments. 

Here there are some manor houses dated back from the XVII century untill the XIX century.  

In Nelas live arround 4000 inhabitants that work in commerce, services, and  in some big industries in the area.

Nelas School Cluster (Agrupamento de Escolas de Nelas) brings together 11 schools and aims educational goals for about 1080 students from kindergarten to secondary grades providing a quality educational service in the new framework of articulation from kindergarten to secondary education. With a strong emphasis on intervention with students with special educational needs and gifted students, it seeks to find pedagogical answers adjusted to the characteristics, needs and interests of all students, thus enabling them to acquire skills (knowledge, abilities, attitudes) that allow them to face and respond to the dynamics of current and future society as autonomous, responsible, interventive, and tolerant citizens, capable of becoming lifelong learners. Science and technology, arts and communication, languages and social sciences are important areas for developing activities. Arts, drama, music and sports are the most popular areas of interest for our students as extracurricular activities.

There are 5 kindergartens (3 to 6 years old), 3 primary schools (6 to 10 years old), a Kindergarten and Primary school, an elementary school (10 to 13 years old) and a secondary school (12 to 18 years old). The last 3 are in Nelas and the 5 kindergartens and 3 primary schools are located on the outskirts of Nelas.