Leiria

Leiria , Portuguese city, capital of the District of Leiria, is located in the Center area, under division of Pinhal de Leiria. The city counts: 42745 inhabitants (: 62500 in the agglomeration).

Leiria is the chief town of a municipality of 564,66 km ², cash: 119870 inhabitants (2001), subdivided in 29 Freguesia S (civil parishes). The city is delimited in north-eastern north/by the commune of Pombal, in the east by Ourém, the south by Batalha and Oporto de Mós, and in south-west by Alcobaça.

In the west, the department is delimited by the Atlantic littoral. The town of Leiria is located on the Lily and Lena.

The common one received its first charter of Alphonse I {{er}}, first king de Portugal, in 1142, under the name of Leirena.

With a varied gastronomy and recognized traditions, the commune is historically rich, as the Castle to the city and the Sanctuary of Notre Dame of the Incarnation testify some. One finds in the area of Leiria of the thermal spas with Monte Real, of the beaches like that of Pedrógão, a Lagoon with Ervideira and the municipal wood of Marrazes.

The annual festival takes place between 1st and on May 25th and is integrated in the tradition of the area. May 22nd is one bank holiday in the commune. Indeed, one celebrates there this day Notre Dame of the Assumption ( Nossa Senhora da Assunção ).

Twinning

Maringá (Brazil).
Saint-Maur-of-Ditches (France).
Tokushima (Japan).
Setúbal (Portugal).
Olivença (Spain).
Rheine (Germany).
Halton (England).
São Filipe (Cap Verde).
Tongling (China).
Nampula (Mozambique).

Subdivisions

The municipality of Leiria gathers 29 parishes (Freguesia, in Portuguese) of which here the list:

History

The area where Leiria is inhabited for a long time, although its early history remains rather obscure. Turduli, native-born people of the Iberian peninsula , established a village close to the current city of Leiria (approximately 7 km). This village was then occupied by the Romains, which extended it under the name of Collippo. The rocks of the old Roman city were used with the Moyen-âge to build part of Leiria.

Few things reached us from the time of occupation of the sector by the Visigoths, but for the Arab period, Leiria was already a city having a place. Leiria Moor was captured in 1135 by first king de Portugal, Alphonse Henriques, during the Reconquista. This locality was briefly taken again by the Moors in 1137, and later in 1140. In 1142 Alphonse Henriques reconquered Leiria, and to this year the first charter goes back from the city, allotted to stimulate the colonization of the sector. Leiria was still attacked by the Moors in 1190 and 1195, being taken again finally by the king Sanche I {{er}}, second king of Portugal.

Two kings, Afonso Henriques and Sanche Ier, endeavoured to rebuild the ramparts and the castle of the village, to prevent new incursions Moors. The majority of the population lived inside the ramparts of the city, but already at the 12th century part of the population lived outside her walls. The oldest church of Leiria, the Church of São Pedro was built in Romance style in the last quarter of the 12th century, was used as parish external with the ramparts.

During the Middle Ages, the importance of the village increased, and was the seat of several the Cortes (feudal kinds of assembly). The first of these assemblies was held in Leiria in 1245, during the reign of the king Alphonse II ( Afonso in Portuguese). At the beginning of the 14th century, in 1324, the king Denis I {{er}} ordered to set up the tower of the keep of the castle, as an inscription in the tower attests it. This king built also a royal residence in Leiria, which today does not exist any more, and lived long years in the city, which it then gave like stronghold to his wife, the Queen Santa Isabel. The king also ordered the plantation of the famous forest of pine of Leiria ( Pinhal de Leiria ), close to the Atlantic coast. Later, the wood of this forest will be used to build the ships used at the time of the Grandes Portuguese Discoveries, during the 15th century and 16th century. During the 14th century, the Jews developed in this commune one of the most remarkable communities, at the point to develop a flowering industrial activity.

At the end of the 14th century, the king Jean I {{er}} built a royal palace inside the enclosures of the castle. This palate, with its elegant Gothic galleries offers marvellous sights of the city and surrounding landscape. This palate completely in ruins was partially rebuilt at the 20th century. Jean I {{er}} also allowed the rebuilding in the late Gothic style of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Pena , being inside the perimeter of the castle.

Towards the end of the 15th century, the city continued to grow, occupying the sector which widens since the hill of the castle to the Lis river. It is in Leiria that the first book in Portugal was printed. The king Manuel I {{er}} gave to the locality a new charter in 1510, and in 1545 Leiria was high with the row of city, consequently becoming seat of the Diocese. The Cathedral of Leiria was built in second half of the 16th century, is a mixture of two styles: the mannerism (late rebirth) and the Style manuélin (Gothic late).

In comparison with the Middle Ages, the posterior history of Leiria is of a relative decline. Nevertheless, at the 20th century, its strategic position in the Portuguese territory supported the development of various industries, allowing a strong its area and urban development.

In fact, during several years, Leiria was one of the smallest capitals of district and was not even the most populated city of its district. It was indeed supplanted by the town of Caldas da Rainha. Nevertheless, during the last years the city developed in a supported way, and forms today part of the 25 greater urban centres of the country.

Currently, the president of the room is Isabel Damasceno Campos Costa, member of the PSD.

Geography and localization

Leiria is located between the two Portuguese main cities, Lisbon and Oporto, close to the littoral of the country. It is distant of 146 km Lisbon, 179 km of Oporto and 72 km of Coïmbre. The city is the center of a sector of influence of approximately: 350000 inhabitants, who include other agglomerations like the towns of Marinha Grande in the West, of Pombal in North and the East, of Ourém in the East, Fátima and Alcobaça.

Leiria is close to the beaches like the Praia da Vieira , Praia C Pedrógão but also of seaside resorts such as São Pedro de Moel, Paredes da Vitória and Nazaré. One can note the presence in the city or in the vicinity several monuments of interest: the Monastery of Alcobaça, the Monastery of Batalha, the Castle of Oporto de Mós and the Castle of Ourém. The historical city of Aljubarrota is located at approximately 25 km of Leiria, just like the town of Fátima, known for its sanctuary and its religious value.

Leiria is located in the fertile plain where the Lily runs, in Beira Litoral (old Portuguese province). The historical city extends between the hill from the castle and the Lily.

Climate

The area of Leiria has a Mediterranean Climat, the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean by attenuating the characteristics. allowing to have months of rather sunny Springs and be with high temperatures, especially during the months of July and August. One raises during these two months, of the temperatures often higher than 30ºC, but seldom reaching the bar of the 40ºC. To a hot be and with little precipitation is opposed a Hiver with soft temperatures and sufficiently rainy. The temperatures seldom go down below 5ºC, the average being around 10ºC.

In the center town of Leiria, the opening of the valleys of the Lily and Lena and the frames of the castles of São Miguel and Nossa Senhora da Encarnação , allow the existence of a microclimate. This microclimate in spite of the oceanic influence and moisture, presents continental characteristics to knowing, hot summers and rigorous winters with sometimes negative temperatures.

Economy

The area saw trade, agriculture and industry. Among the industrial activities one finds the manufacture of objects out of ceramics, plastics, moulds and cements. Civil construction has also an important weight, just like tourism. The principal economic sector is the tertiary sector of the services.

Demography

Transport

Three highways serve Leiria:

the A1 (Highway of North: Lisbon - Oporto),
the A8 (Highway of the West: Lisbon - Leiria),
the A17 (Marinha Large - Aveiro).

Leiria is also served by the railway of the West (Lisbon - Figueira da Foz - Coimbra).

Projects

Two major projects as regards transport:

the TGV
the setting in civil service and commercial of the military airport of Montreal

Education

Leiria is the seat of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria which is an establishment of higher education which has also an antenna with Peniche and with Caldas da Rainha. This institution was established in 1987. One finds in Leiria three of the five schools which compose this polytechnic institute: the University of Education of Leiria, the University of Technology and Management of Leiria and the University of Health of Leiria.

Sport

The city has its own football team, the União Desportiva de Leiria, which one shortens in União de Leiria. This team currently plays in the elite of Portuguese football, the Liga betandwin.com . The club plays in the municipal stage, the Stade Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, placed in against-low hill of the castle. The multitude at the stage is one of weakest of all the 1 league. Nevertheless, the stage accommodated the Championnat European of Football in 2004, usually called Euro 2004. To receive this great event, the stage underwent improvements, carrying its capacity with: 25000 spectators. Leiria were played two matches of the Group B, Switzerland-Croatia (0-0) and Croatia-France (2-2). There exists also a team of hockey on shoes: hockey Club of Leiria.

Football:
Hockey on Shoes: Hoquei Clube de Leiria

Museums

Museum of the Image moving - This museum results from the 100 Years an exposure commemorative of the Cinema to Portugal (1995), when one recognized the need for finding a space where the elements related to the cinematographic art could be joined together like being exposed and revealed. One still considers the installation of a specialized library and a video library dedicated to the Portuguese cinema.

Musée of the Cement Factory Maceira-Read - Inaugurated in 1991, it preserves the inheritance of the aforesaid the factory, whose history is related to the evolution of this industry in Portugal. One still finds there, the first engine with vapor of the factory, the first diège of Management and a windmill.

Monuments

Castle of Leiria - After the conquest of Leiria with depends on the Moors, Alphonse Henriques ordered in 1135 the construction of a castle in this locality. In 1195 pennies the reign of Sanche I {{er}}, the castle was first once strengthened. Then in 1324, Denis I {{er}} ordered the construction of the tower of guard, and transformed the fortress into palate. The French invasions caused important damage, but the castle of Leiria preserved its beauty. The castle, such as it is presented today, been the fruit of a recent creation. At the 19th century, the medieval fortification being in ruins, the Swiss architect of origin Ernesto Korrodi worked out, in 1898, a plan of rebuilding. In the head of the architect this plan fitted, not in an archaeological investigation, but in the romantic vision of medieval architecture. Work lasted of 1915 to 1950, with the intervention of the National Monuments. Top of the castle, one can see urban fabric of the city, like its periphery.

Sanctuary of Notre Dame of the Incarnation - Built during the 16th century, it is in the ruins of the temple of Gabriel Saint. To the 18th century, a large staircase baroque was added, which makes possible the access to the vault of the courtyard arches, where figure an image of Gabriel Saint dating from the sixteenth century.

Cathedral of Leiria - the beginning of its construction goes back to 1559, but it was completed only in second half of the 17th century. Although outside it presents a Gothic architecture, inside the direction of the proportion of spaces given by mathematical calculation typically evokes the Renaissance style and traditional. It is deprived of bell-tower. A high square dating from the beginning of the 17th century and provides with a balustrade with invaluable stones, surrounds the building.

Vault of Saint Pierre - Of Romance origin (end of the 12th century), it was target deep transformations, it was used in turn as attic then of theater until 1880. In 1940 it was restored then the religious worship began again. There remains still various Romance elements like arcs and columns.

Church and Couvent of São Francisco - Restored with the length of the centuries, it presents elements of the Renaissance style and baroques. At the 20th century, its demolition had been envisaged but in 1920, it was yielded to the Company Leiriense de Moagens . When the restoration began in 1992, one discovered paintings old murals 400 years.

Convent of Saint Augustin - Its construction began in the last quarter from the century 16th century, and was completed with XVIII|6 E century. One can notice the cloister of the Convent and the frontage baroque flanked by two turns. In the building annexes convent the frontages of azulejos are references XVII|6 E and XVIII|6 E centuries

Craft industry

Crockery of Bajouca - the locality of Bajouca has a tradition of very old pottery. In this locality, the crockery is very clear. Thus, the potters benefit from this characteristic to make a red decoration with lambugem, primarily in the mask-meshs, with reddish and white scratches. The produced parts are utility and decorative.

Rodilhas (Mothers-in-law) of Leiria - the " Rodilhas" or " Beautiful-mères" are small cushions of circular form, open in the center. They were used by the women, which put on the head in order to transport the water jugs or the baskets. The materials used for their clothes industry are belts of rags, wools and lines of embroidery, interlaced and embroidered. Nowadays, this type of object is also used like decoration.

Personalities related to the commune

Afonso Lopes Vieira, writer (1878-1946)
Almerindo Marks, economist (1939 -)
António Campos, scenario writer (1922-1999)
António Jose Saraiva, historian and professor of university (1917-1993)
António Pedro Vasconcelos, scenario writer (1939 -)
David Fonseca, musician (1973 -)
Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, poet (1579-1621)
João Lopes Soares, pedagog and Minister for the I {{Re}} Republic (1878-1970)
Jose de Sá Caetano, scenario writer (1933 -)
Jose Hermano Saraiva, lawyer and historian (1919 -)
Jose Mattoso, historian (1933 -)
Miguel Free, actor, director and playwright (1918-1988)
Tiago Guedes, choreographer and ballet dancer (1978 -)

External bonds

Photographs of Leiria and its surroundings
Photographs centered on Leiria

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