Leiria
Portugal City Travel Guide: Leiria
City Guide I Turismo I Arrival I Accommodation I Entertainment I Internet
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Leiria
- Graceful, historic castle town on the River Liz.
- Famed for its cobbled streets, gardens and squares.
- Population around 50,000, two hours north of Lisbon.
- Gateway to Fátima, Alcobaca and Batalha.
- Important university in town.
Leiria (lay-ree-uh) is a small Estremaduran
castle town with a population of around 50,000 that is perhaps best used
as a jumping off point to other nearby attractions: Alcobaca, Batalha,
and Fátima. Before we jump
off, though, a bit about Leiria itself.
Dom Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, reconquered the Moorish
castle for the Christians in 1135 that is set on the hilltop where Leiria
now stands. This is around 6 km from an older settlement founded by the
Romans called Colippo. The Castle was, however, recaptured by the Moors
in 1190. Two years later King Dom Sancho I finally retook it and rebuilt
the walls. Leiria Castle (Tel: 244 813 982) has a pleasant garden
within its walls and a ruined 12th century church, the Igreja de Nossa
Senhora de Penha.
During Dom Dinis's reign (13th-14th centuries), Leiria rose in importance
as the king and his wife Queen Santa Isabel chose it as one of the royal
residences, building the Royal Palace within the castle walls.
King Dom Joao I later ordered it to be rebuilt in the Gothic style, which
is the centerpiece of the castle. Dom Dinis also ordered the planting
of the Leiria pine forest, so as to hold back the shifting sands on the
coast. The wood from the trees was used as the building material for the
ships that undertook the famous voyages abroad in the 15th and 16th century.
In addition to the castle, today the city has a cobbled old quarter centered
around Praca Roderigues Lobo, with the streets radiating from the
square full of cafes and bars popular with locals and the student community.
Leira's cathedral - Se - dates from the 16th century and nearby
is the beautifully azulejos-tiled 19th century Pharmacy Leonardo Paiva
- now a bar. The Jardim Luis de Camoes is a pleasant riverside
park.
A bit farther afield are the aforementioned Alcobaca, Batalha, Fátima,
and decent beaches, all of which are easily accessed by bus. Alcobaca
is blessed with a UNESCO
World Heritage Site: the 12th century Cisterian monastery Mosteiro
de Santa Mara de Alcobaca. Nearby in Batalha
is yet another World Heritage Site.
The Mosteiro da Batalha (Battle Abbey) is world renowned for its ornate
decoration. Finally, Fátima
is the small town where in May 1917 three shepherd children claimed to
have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Six months later some 70,000
devotees gathered there and witnessed what has come to be described as
the "Miracle of the Sun". Light shot out, the ill were cured,
the lame walked. Today the town is overrun with shops hawking religious
goods .
Leiria Tourist Office
Regional Tourist Office of Leiria/Fatima
Jardim Luis de Camoes Apartado 1115-2401-801
Leiria
Tel. 244 848 771 Fax. 244 848 779
Toll Free: 800 202 5596.
Website: www.rt-leiriafatima.pt
Getting to Leiria
From Lisbon's Oriente Station, intercity trains take approximately two
hours and thirty minutes with 1st class, and second-class seats available.
Five trains daily.
From Lisbon take the A1 highway north. Takes about 1-2 hours.
On the bus, it takes 1 hour to 2 hours 15 mins from Lisbon. From Porto,
the trip takes around two hours and twenty minutes. There are also buses
to Alcobaca (50 mins), Batalha (30 mins), Coimbra (1 hours, 45 mins),
Fatima (45 mins) and Tomar (50 mins).
The pousada da juventude (tel/fax 244 831 868), located at Largo Candido
dos Reis 7-D has dorm beds and doubles. Rooms at The Residencial Dom
Dinis (244 815 342, fax 244 823 552), at Travessa de Tomar 2, are comfortable
and comes with a good breakfast. Pensao Residencial Leiriense (244 823
054, fax 244 823 073), at Rua Afonso de Albuquerque 6, offers clean rooms
and breakfast.
Featured Hotel
Eurosol Hotel Rua Dom Jose Alves Correia da Silva.
135 rooms.
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this hotel
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Not far from the Largo Santana on or near Rua Dr Correia Mateus there
are several comfortable places to eat. Restaurante Monte Carlo (244 825
406), Rua Dr Correia Mateus 32, serves simple fare. O Manel (244 832 132),
Rua Dr Correia Mateus 50, is a bit pricier and has a great fish menu.
In the Jardim Luis de Camoes close by the Rio Lis is the popular Cervejaria
Camões (244 83 86 28), which does weekday buffet lunches.
Near Largo Candido there are good cafes and bars to be found. Among
them are Os Filipes, at No A.
List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising
Internet Cafe
Escadinha Net Cafe
Av. Nossa Sra de Fátima, 37
10am-8.30pm Mon-Sat.
List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising
 Local
football team
Leiria is home to UD Leiria, a solid, though unspectacular first division
side in the Portuguese domestic league. Euro2004 matches took place at
the club's home ground, Estadio Municipal
Dr. Magalhães Pessoa. It has a capacity of 30,000 and underwent
improvements costing around US$30 million prior to the championships.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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