Recent fieldwork carried out for the study of the lichen flora in the Upper Douro region (north-east Portugal) has resulted in a remarkable collection of Peltula specimens, including one new species (Peltula lobata J. Marques, M. Schultz & Paz-Berm.), three new species records for mainland Europe [Peltula bolanderi (Tuck.) Wetmore, Peltula farinosa Büdel and Peltula zahbruckneri (Hasse) Wetmore] and seven species new for mainland Portugal, that are reported here with a notes on their morphology and currently known distribution. The new species Peltula lobata is differentiated from any other known Peltula species by its thallus shape and size, presence of large, sessile apothecia with widely opened discs and by a complete absence of soredia. Identical specimens were also obtained from the nearby locality of Siega Verde in the province of Salamanca, and from the southern locality of Abla in the province of Almeria, both in Spain. New insights into the morphological diversity of Peltula euploca and Peltula bolanderi are also provided. The region is revealed to be a hotspot for Peltula diversity and a very promising area for further research on the morphological and molecular variation among the former species. A revised key to European species of the genus is also presented.