Leiria

From the coast inland, this is a district with a wide variety of places to visit, with different sceneries, monuments and customs.
On the coast, for example, Peniche is a busy fishing town, where you can enjoy the thrills of deep-sea fishing, great seafood restaurants and also take a boat to visit the small, rocky islands of the Berlengas, a natural reserve surrounded by transparent waters.

Nazaré is another fishing town with a spectacular beach, lying below deep cliffs, where fisherman still stretch their nets on the sand and wear checked shirts, and their wives several layers of petticoats.
From the quiet charm of the city of Leiria, with its ancient castle, you can drive to the magnificent abbey of Batalha, a masterpiece of gothic arquitecture. Another abbey to visit lies in Alcobaça, with its simple, medieval lines and immense church, dating from 1153.

Caldas da Rainha is famous for its popular and often humorous ceramics, while Marinha Grande is known for its glass industry.
Also don't miss Óbidos, an enchanting whitewashed town built within castellated walls from the 14th century.

Peniche’s Fortress (Peniche)
The Peniche’s Fortress was, in olden days, the headquarters of an important military complex.
After depreciation of its strategic localisation and after attending and taking part in many wars, it was deactivated as a military structure. From then on, the fortress was used as shelter, internment residence and prison for Austrian, German and New State politician opponents.
The Peniche’s Museum is installed in the interior, and it presents representative collections of local ethnography and of the economic activities of this region.

Misericórdia’s Church (Peniche)
From this monument is to point out the 55 paintings covered roof, representing scenes of the New Testament. These paintings show the visitor the best that was done in the regional painting area, around the 17th century.
Besides this cartoon conceived by several painters, there are also five magnificent pictures made by Josefa d’Óbidos, tiles covering the walls and outstanding sculptures.

Batalha – Battle - Monastery (Batalha)
The Santa Maria da Vitória Monastery was built because of a vow that D. João I made to the Virgin, in case he won the Aljubarrota Battle against the Castilians. Elected World Heritage by UNESCO this is the big Portuguese final Gothic monument and its construction began in 1388.
On the portal one can see Apostles, Prophets, Angels and Christ surrounded by the four evangelists. On the Fundador Chapel, visitors can find the tombs of D. João I, D.ª Filipa de Lencastre and her child.
You cannot leave this Monastery without seeing the glass windows representing the Visitation, the Magi Worship, the Run Away to Egypt and the Christ’s Resurrection scenes. On the exterior the highlights are the gargoyles, salient gutters located on the high zone of the walls.
This is, definitely, one of the most beautiful Gothic monuments in all Portugal and of all Humanity.

Alcobaça’s Monastery (Alcobaça)
Set on the fertile valley of the Alcoa and Baça rivers, this monastery appears following D. Afonso Henriques’s vow. He promised the Monastery donation to the Císter Order when he conquered Santarém to the Moors.
From the original Baroque façade with two majestic towers only remain the portal, the rose window and the two big windows.
On the lateral chapels of the transept there are the D. Pedro I and D.ª Inês de Castro tombs, two magnificent medieval sculpture formations. The transept gives access to the Tombs Room of D. Afonso II, D. Afonso III, their wives and some infants.
The convent dependencies are located around the Cloister: the Chapter Room, the Monks Room, the 18th century kitchen and the mess hall.
On Kingdom’s Room, one can see rich tile panels and clay statues of Portuguese monarchs.