This picturesque city is situated in the central part of Portugal, near the River Mondego, at the foot of the Serra da Estrela mountain range. It has about 7 thousand inhabitants. The handcraft industry is proud of its rich traditions. The pottery and basketry works have particularly special artistic value. For several years the industrial zone has been developing, which is dominated by foreign investors.
Contacts of Mielec with Vila Nova de Poiares began in 1997 from a meeting of the delegations of cities in Douchy-les-Mines (France), which is a twin city for both. During the visit of the Portuguese delegation in Mielec in 1998 it was agreed to commence planned cooperation of the cities, particularly in the fields of education, culture, sport and economy.
During its stay in Poland in June 2001, the delegation of the local government of Vila Nova de Poiares signed with representatives of the local government of Mielec an “Agreement on cultural, sport and economic exchange”.