Portuguese wool blankets: cobertor de papa, manta lobeira and shepherd's blanket, what is the difference

By Luís Serra, co-founder of Ra-Ro · View profile

About a 6 minute read

The cobertor de papa is a churra wool blanket woven on hand looms in Maçainhas, near Guarda, then fulled and carded until it gets the long pile that sets it apart. The manta lobeira and the manta do pastor (shepherd's blanket) are not different blankets: at Ra-Ro they are two versions of the same cobertor de papa, the lobeira in colour and the shepherd's one more sober. The Ecolã "manta pastor" wool blanket is a different piece, made in Manteigas, in the Serra da Estrela, cheaper and without the papa's long pile.

Portuguese wool blankets in short

• Cobertor de papa: churra wool, hand loom, long pile; made in Maçainhas, Guarda.
• Manta do Pastor: the sober version of the cobertor de papa, €198.10.
• Manta Lobeira: the colourful version of the cobertor de papa, €271.90.
• Ecolã shepherd blanket: a wool blanket made in Manteigas, €114.00.
• Care: air it a lot, wash it little, always by hand or at a cleaner, never in the machine.

What is the cobertor de papa

It is a heavy wool blanket made for the cold of the Guarda highlands, in Beira Alta. Before heaters and synthetic fibres, shepherds and their families slept under it. These blankets have been documented since the mid 16th century. Where the name "papa" comes from is not clear, and we prefer not to repeat explanations nobody has proved. What we know for sure is in our cobertor de papa glossary entry.

How the cobertor de papa is made

1. Churra wool: the long, coarse fleece of local sheep is spun.
2. Hand loom: in Maçainhas it is woven on looms more than 300 years old.
3. Fulling: the cloth is washed and pressed until the wool closes up and becomes dense.
4. Carding: the surface is carded to raise the long pile.
5. Drying: the blanket dries stretched out in the sun.

This finish is what makes it different from burel: burel is also fulled, but it stays smooth and compact, to wear in the rain; papa ends up fluffy, to cover up with. See the burel glossary entry.

Manta lobeira and manta do pastor: what changes

In our catalogue both are listed as Cobertor de Papa, from the same maker, O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa, in Maçainhas. Technique and wool are the same. The Manta do Pastor is the simpler version, the one shepherds used every day. The Manta Lobeira is the colourful version, with more colour work, and so it costs more. For the meaning of the name lobeira, we keep what we could confirm in the manta lobeira glossary entry.

And the shepherd's blanket from Manteigas?

Search for "manta de pastor" and you will find many wool blankets from the Serra da Estrela. The Ecolã Wool Blanket (Manta Pastor) is one of them: it comes from a small family business in Manteigas that mixes old and new techniques. It is a warm, honest wool blanket, but it is not a cobertor de papa: it is not made in Maçainhas and has no carded long pile. Discover the area on our Serra da Estrela page.

How to recognise a genuine cobertor de papa

• Pile: long and raised, not a short fleece.
• Weight: it is heavy; a light, thin throw is not papa.
• Feel: churra wool is rustic, not soft like merino.
• Origin: it should state Maçainhas, Guarda, and the maker.
• Composition: wool, with no synthetic fibres mixed in.

How much it costs and why

At Ra-Ro a cobertor de papa costs between €198.10 (Manta do Pastor) and €271.90 (Manta Lobeira). The price reflects selected wool, hours on a hand loom, fulling, carding and drying in the sun, in a craft that survives in very few hands. The Ecolã blanket, at €114.00, is the entry point for anyone who wants Portuguese mountain wool without the papa finish. To compare shops and find the genuine one, see our guide Cobertor de Papa: price and where to buy. The story of the craft is in the shepherds' blanket still woven in Maçainhas.

How to care for and wash a wool blanket

• Air it: hang it outdoors in the shade; wool cleans itself a lot with air.
• Shake and brush: it removes dust without damaging the pile.
• Wash rarely: by hand, in cold water, with wool soap, without rubbing or wringing; or at a cleaner that handles wool.
• Dry flat: wet, it is very heavy; dry it spread out, away from radiators.
• Never machine or dryer: heat and agitation shrink and tangle wool.
• Store: dry, in a cloth bag, with lavender or cedar against moths.

Which one to give for Christmas

• Under €40: the Cobertor de Papa Planner (€35.70), covered in the same cloth.
• Around €100: the Ecolã blanket (€114.00), for the sofa.
• For the bed of someone who feels the cold: the Manta do Pastor (€198.10).
• For colour lovers: the Manta Lobeira (€271.90).
• To give it all: the Winter in Maçainhas Pack (€210.42), Manta do Pastor and planner, 10% cheaper than buying them separately.

More ideas in Handmade Portuguese Christmas gifts and, for winter nights, in Rainy nights: mead, bitter honey and cobertor de papa.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between cobertor de papa and manta lobeira?

At Ra-Ro the manta lobeira is a version of the cobertor de papa: the same churra wool and the same Maçainhas loom, in a colourful, more expensive version.

What is a Portuguese shepherd's blanket?

It is the sober version of the cobertor de papa, the one shepherds used every day. The name is also used for other mountain wool blankets, such as the Ecolã one from Manteigas.

How much does a cobertor de papa cost?

At Ra-Ro, between €198.10 (Manta do Pastor) and €271.90 (Manta Lobeira). The price reflects churra wool and hand loom work.

Where is the cobertor de papa made?

In Maçainhas, near Guarda, in Beira Alta, on hand looms more than 300 years old.

Can a cobertor de papa go in the washing machine?

No. Air and shake it; when it really needs it, wash by hand in cold water with wool soap, or use a cleaner that handles wool, and dry flat.

Where can I buy a genuine cobertor de papa?

At Ra-Ro, straight from the Maçainhas maker, shipping to Portugal and abroad.