Covers in Portugal are generally made of metal (with a relatively small number made of concrete) and come in round  , rectangular  , or square  shapes.
Round covers placed on sidewalks are usually surrounded by paving that matches their circumference  , although occasionally, round covers are encased in a square frame  .
Portugal takes pride in the paving of sidewalks in its main cities, which is often considered a tourist attraction.
The great attention given to paving is sometimes reflected even in the paving around covers that do not require special paving (i.e., round covers), as in the following example .
Some covers are diagonal (made of two triangular parts, allowing opening by lifting one part)  .

Covers in Portugal are not usually colorful or gold-plated (there is one cover with a golden label, but it is quite rare and isolated  ).

City emblems appear on many covers, especially those in the capital, Lisbon  .

Typically, the cover indicates its function:
Sewer covers display the word SANEAMENTO (sanitation)  , ESGOTOS (sewage)  , or Águas Residuais (wastewater)  .

Water covers display the word ÁGUAS, or combinations such as ÁGUAS PLUVIAIS (rainwater)  .

Telecom covers display TELECOMUNICAÇÕES (telecommunications)  or logos of telecom companies.

A series of covers titled "There is Art in the Sewer" (Há Art No Esgoto) can be found in Lisbon, featuring illustrations of famous or historic city landmarks. This series was created in 2021 to mark the International Sanitation Day (November 19)  .

Consumers of the covers are typically various municipalities, water and sewage companies, or telecom companies.

Many cities in Portugal are known for their spectacular pavements. Many covers take advantage of this fact - "chameleon" covers - a combination of a cover with the pavement, so that the cover merges almost completely with its surroundings ,
A wonderful example of such a lid, photographed in Cascais

In many cases, water covers (mainly) are not located on the sidewalk/road but on the walls of houses

Manufacturers
Many covers are produced by local manufacturers such as Fucoli  , Capa  , HL Fundição  , FDP  , and others.
International manufacturers include PAm  and Norinco  , as well as Spanish manufacturers like Fabregas  and Fundición Dúctil Benito  .

Standards
The international standard EN124 and load classes D400 or B125 are common among local manufacturers  , and of course also among international ones.
The EN124 standard is usually preceded by the letters NP = Norma Portuguesa, letters indicating that the manhole cover complies with the Portuguese implementation of the EN124 standard .
The Portuguese CERTIF certification  can be found, as well as standards from other countries, such as the French NF  , Spanish AENOR  , and others from across Europe.