Area Guide

Leiria District

A historical gem

In the central region lies the Leiria district within the Centro Region and is a subregion of Pihhal Litoral with Leiria town as capital. It is located some 130 kilometres from Lisbon along the Silver Coast. The area has been inhabited for a very long time although the earliest settlements are not quite known. In roman times however, there was a proper town and many of the stones of that town were used when Leiria was rebuilt during the middle ages. The historic city centre spreads between the castle hill and the river Lis. If you would like to immerse yourself in history it is a great idea to go looking for a property for sale in Leiria. During the Middle Ages the importance of the village increased, and many feudal parliaments took place there. In the early 14th century, King Dinis I restored the tower of the citadel of the castle. The King also ordered the plantation of the famous Pine Forest of Leiria (Pinhal de Leiria) near the coast (or perhaps it was King Alfonso III as there are different theories of who actually started the pine plantation). The wood in the plantation is so called maritime wood and would later be used to build the ships used in the Portuguese Navigations of the 15th and 16th centuries. Today the forest is a wonderful place for recreation, pick-nicks, hikes, or just lovely strolls through the forests. Towards the end of the 15th century the town continued to grow. It was elevated to the category of a city and became see of a Diocese. The Cathedral of Leiria was built in the latter part of the 16th century and the castle is one of the most distinguished in the country. After the Middle Ages, Leiria went through war, fire, common decay and not until the 20th century was it again a booming city. Due to its strategic position in the Portuguese territory it was a city to reckon with. Its historic part of the town spreads between the castle hill and the river Lis. Leiria is also included in the Região de Leiria. As the main city in this community, the area of influence of Leiria spreads over the cities of Marinha Grande, Ourém, Alcobaça, Fátima, Pombal as well the municipalities/town seats of Batalha, Porto de Mós and Nazaré located nearby. The central square, Praça Rodrigues Lobo, is the hub of Leiria’s nightlife and a lovely place just to sit and people watch while sipping on a cold drink. The square has got its name from one of Leiria’s most famous figures, the early-17th-century poet Rodrigues Lobo. He came from a wealthy family but chose to write about the poor farmers working by the Lena and Lis Rivers. Lobo is was honored with a statue, erected in the southwest corner of the square in 1923. Do go looking for a property for sale in Leiria if you are interested in history and the authentic old ways of Portugal. Take a stroll down the narrow streets and enjoy a lovely night out around the Praça.

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