 Leiria, modernity and history
Leiria is a modern and developed city, with about 43 thousand inhabitants. Capital of the District, Leiria is about 146 kilometres from Lisbon.
The rivers Lis and Lena are the biggest of Leiria, which counts with a vast history. In the council there are great constructions that let us know a little bit about the past of Portugal.
The castle of Leiria is the more notable monument.
In the dynamics of the territorial conquests for the foundation of the reign of Portugal, the Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques, the Conqueror, ordered to build the Castle, in the first half of the century XII. After the foundation of the Castle, with the increase of the population, the town expanded outside of the walls. In 1545 the place was declared city and Diocese.
Between the Castle and the river Lis was born the city of Leiria, modern and attractive.
The council has other tourist attractions, as the sanctuary of “Nossa Senhora da Encarnação”, the “Sé Catedral” of Leiria, São Pedro's Chapel, the Church and Convent of San Francisco, Santo Agostinho's Convent, the Convent of “Santo António of Capuchos”, Real Monte's Pillory and the Church of “Nossa Senhora da Luz” or Parochial Church of Maceira.
The "Pedrogao beach" is one of the most admirable places during the Summer.
For those who like Museums, Leiria has some alternatives, as the Museum of the Image in Movement, which was open in 1995, as a result of a commemorative exhibition of the 100 Years of the Movies in Portugal. The place still counts with a specialized library and videoteca vacationed for the Portuguese movies.
The Museum of Maceira-Lis Cement’s Factory was inaugurated in 1991. In this place the factory is preserved, whose history is linked to the evolution of this kind of industry in Portugal.
The craftsmanship is one of the activities that prevail in the area. In Leiria, the place of Bajouca has a tradition of very old brickwork. In this place, the dish is very clear.
The very known piece is the "Rodilhas of Leiria", that are characterized for having small cushions in a circular way, open in the centre. They were used by the women, who transported on the head the water jugs or the baskets. The materials used to make the “Rodilhas” are ribbons of rags, wools and lines of embroidering, twisted and embroidered. Nowadays, this piece is also used as decoration.
About the gastronomy, the typical plate is the “Morcela” of Rice. In the candies, is used the Breezes of Lis, “Lampreia” of Eggs and the “Folhados de Ovos”.
To complete the map of the council of Leiria there are the “freguesias” of Amor, Arrabal, Azóia, Bajouca, Barosa, Barreira, Bidoeira de Cima, Boa Vista, Caranguejeira, Carreira, Carvide, Chainça, Coimbrão, Colmeias, Cortes, Leiria, Maceira, Marinheiros, Marrazes, Memória, Milagres, Monte Real, Monte Redondo, Ortigosa, Parceiros, Pousos, Regueira de Pontes, Santa Catarina da Serra, Santa Eufémia e Souto da Carpalhosa.
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