The region around Leiria has long been inhabited although its early history is obscure. The first evident inhabitants were theTurduli Oppidani,[3] aCeltici tribe (akin to theLusitanians), who established a settlement near (around 7 km) present-day Leiria. This settlement was later occupied by theRomans, who expanded it under the originalCeltiberian nameCollippo.[4] The stones of the ancient Roman town were used in the Middle Ages to build much of Leiria.
The name "Leiria" in Portuguese derives from 'leira' (from the medievalGalician-Portuguese[5] form 'laria', fromproto-Celtic *ɸlār-yo-, akin toEnglish 'floor(ing)',Old Irish 'làr' 'ground, floor',Breton 'leur' 'ground',Welsh 'llawr' 'floor') meaning an area with small farming plots.It was occupied by theSuebi in 414 until they were forced by the Romans to retreat to Galicia and later incorporated by Leovigild into theVisigoths kingdom in 585 A.D.Later theMoors occupied the area until it was re-captured by the first King of Portugal,Afonso Henriques in 1135, during theReconquista.
South of Leiria in that period was the so-called "no-man's land", until regions further south (likeSantarém andLisbon) were permanently taken and re-populated by theChristians. In 1142 Afonso Henriques gave Leiria its firstforal (compilation of feudal rights) to stimulate the colonisation of the region.
BothAfonso I of Portugal andSancho I rebuilt the walls and theLeiria Castle to avoid new enemy incursions. Most of the population lived inside the protective city walls, but already in the 12th century part of the population lived outside the walls. The oldest church of Leiria, the Church of Saint Peter (Igreja de São Pedro), built inromanesque style in the last quarter of the 12th century, served the parish located outside the walls.
During theMiddle Ages the importance of the village increased, and it was the setting of severalcortes (feudal parliaments). The first of thecortes held in Leiria took place in 1245, underKing Afonso II. In the early 14th century,the king restored thekeep tower of thecitadel of the castle, as can be seen in an inscription in the tower. He also built a royal residence in Leiria (now lost), and lived for long periods in the town, which he donated as feud to his wife,Elizabeth of Portugal (Rainha Isabel).
The king also ordered the plantation of the famous Pine Forest of Leiria (Pinhal de Leiria) near the coast. Later, the wood from this forest would be used to build the ships used in thePortuguese Navigations of the 15th and 16th centuries.
In the late 14th century,King John I built a royal palace within the walls of thecastle of Leiria. This palace, with elegantgothic galleries that offered wonderful views of the town and surrounding landscape, was totally in ruins but was partially rebuilt in the 20th century.
John I also sponsored the rebuilding in late gothic style of the old Church of Our Lady of the Rock (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Pedra), located inside the castle.
Towards the end of the 15th century the town continued to grow, occupying the area from the castle hill down to the river Lis.King Manuel I gave it a newforal in 1510, and, in 1545, it was elevated to the category of city and became see of adiocese.
The Cathedral of Leiria was built in the second half of the 16th century in a mix of latemanueline andmannerist styles.
Compared to the Middle Ages, the subsequent history of Leiria is of relative decay. The city was stormed by thePeninsular War, namely in theFrench Invasions of 1808 (the killing of Portela, by the troops ofGen. Margaron) and the Great Fire of 1811, caused by theNapoleonic troops retreating from theLines of Torres Vedras.
In the 20th century, however, its strategic position in the Portuguese territory favoured the development of a diversifiedindustry.
The Lis River crossing LeiriaLeiria seen from its castle
Leiria is located in westernCentral Portugal. The municipality borders the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest,Marinha Grande to the west,Alcobaça to the southwest,Batalha to the south,Ourém to the southeast, andPombal to the north and northeast. The city is located about halfway betweenLisbon andPorto. The distance to Lisbon is 137 kilometres (85 miles), toCoimbra 70 kilometres (43 miles) and toPorto 177 kilometres (110 miles). The historic city centre spreads between the castle hill and the riverLis.
The city of Leiria has aMediterranean climate (Köppen:Csb) with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Its location near the Atlantic coast keeps temperature variation relatively minimal. The average annual temperature is around 15 °C (59 °F), varying between 10 °C (50 °F) in January, to 20 °C (68 °F) in August.
Winters are mild and wet. On average, around 50% of the days receive some form of precipitation in this season. Average temperatures range between 15 °C (59 °F) during the day and 6 °C (43 °F) at night and can go below 0 °C (32 °F) on colder days, with an average of 15 days with frost per year.[6]
Springs are pleasant, but usually rainy during the month of April. This season, though wet, is slightly drier than winter, with the majority of days receiving no precipitation. Average temperatures range between 19 °C (66 °F) at day and 10 °C (50 °F) at night.
Summers bring high temperatures and sunshine. Precipitation, when present, mostly occurs in the form ofdrizzle, and accounts for only around 20% of days between June and September. Sunshine hours reach their maximum in August (which is sunny 70% of the time). Average temperatures range between 25 °C (77 °F) at day and 15 °C (59 °F) at night, the maximum can exceed 35 °C (95 °F) on hotter days.
Autumn, although mild, is the rainiest season of the year. Average temperatures range between 19 °C (66 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F).
Snowfalls in the city typically occur once every 20 to 30 years. The last time it snowed in Leiria was on 29 January 2006, during which the temperature peaked at −3 °C (27 °F). The highest temperature recorded was 42.3 °C (108.1 °F) on 4 August 2018.[7]
Climate data for Leiria (Monte Real Air Base), 1971-2000, altitude: 32 m (105 ft)
Leiria City Hall, the seat of Leiria's municipal governmentComposition of Leiria city council (2025–2029): PS (7) PSD (3) CH (1)
Gonçalo Lopes took office as the Mayor of Leiria on 26 August 2019, after the resignation of his predecessor. He was re-elected following the2025 local elections.
In addition to being a site of historical interest, the castle of Leiria provides a venue for cultural events. Nearby is the Church of Saint Peter (Igreja de São Pedro), the site of the city's annual music festival. Leiria is home to theMuseu da imagem em movimento (Museum of the Moving Image)[12] as well as Portugal's restored first paper mill,Moinho do Papel (The Paper Mill),[13] the Theatre Miguel Franco in theMercado de Sant'Ana (Saint Anne's Market)[14] and the Theatre José Lúcio da Silva[15] are venues for theatrical, musical, cinematic and dance performances.
Today the central square,Praça Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, named after the Portuguese poetFrancisco Rodrigues Lobo, is home to a thriving café culture, regularly used for cultural events. The city was the principal residence of the Portuguese king,Denis, who wrotelyric poetry in thetroubadour tradition, and briefly the home of the modern realist writerEça de Queiroz, whose first novel,O Crime do Padre Amaro ("Father Amaro's Sin"), published in 1875, is set in the city.
In October 2012, Leiria opened the city's "Centro Cívico", a modern architecture building, designed to have social impact on the community. This building has the life ofEça de Queiroz as a theme. In here, there's senior classes andAssociação Fazer Avançar runs SPEAK, with support fromEDP andCalouste Gulbenkian Foundation, among others.[citation needed]
The city has several cultural entities like Leiria's Public LibraryAfonso Lopes Vieira, Arquivo, Ateneu, Leirena and O Nariz (theatre groups), Associação Fazer Avançar, FADE IN, Metamorfose, ECO and many others which make Leiria a culturally vibrant city, offering the busiest calendars of events.[citation needed]
In recent years, Leiria has seen much redevelopment on the banks of theLis River, with the creation of several new parks, public spaces, children's play areas, skateboard parks and a series of themed bridges. A long riverside promenade was built which is popular with walkers and joggers.[citation needed]
Since 2010, Associação FADE IN organizes ENTREMURALHAS, one of the most important gothic festivals in the world (List of gothic festivals).[citation needed]
Leiria's gastronomy offers a good variety of Portuguese dishes including fresh fish dishes and the famous "Leitão" da Boavista (barbecued piglet/suckling pig). The nearby village of Cortes is known for "Migas", a dish of corn bread with spinach, garlic and olive oil which is eaten as an accompaniment to fish or meat.
Typical Dishes: Morcela de Arroz; Lentriscas; Bacalhoada com migas; Bacalhau com feijão frade; Ossinhos; Fritada; Cabrito;Feijoada; Leitão; Chanfana; Fritada dos peixinhos; Bacalhau com Chícharos.
Traditional sweet pastry:Brisas do Lis; Lampreia de Ovos; Ovos Folhados; Bolinhos dePinhão; Tarte deChícharos (Alvaiázere); Canudos de Leiria; Doce de amêndoa; Broas Doces de Batata; Merendeiras dos Santos; Filhós de abóbora.
Wines of the region: Caves Vidigal, S.A./ Vale da Mata, Cortes / Quinta da Serrinha (Vin Bio), Barreira / Santos & Santos, Torres Vedras / Quinta da Sapeira, Serra d'Aire / Paço Côrtes, Lda. IGP Lisboa, Sub-região Alta Estremadura. These wines are labeled D.O.C. (Denominação de Origem Controlada) which secures a superior quality. Also parte of the Portuguese wine regionEncostas de Aire (DOC).
Leiria has an economy concentrated on services and light industries. It has several industries related with plastics and moulds, as well as animal food, milling, cement, and civil construction, among others. Agriculture, tourism, and state-run public services, such as education (including thePolytechnical Institute of Leiria), health (thedistrict hospitalHospital de Santo André[16]) and general public administration, are an important part of Leiria's economy.
A19, linking Leiria and Batalha, using part of the IC2.
There is a railwayLinha do Oeste (west railway line linking Cacém (Sintra/Lisbon area) toFigueira da Foz) which serves the central western coast of Portugal. Leiria railway station is a few km from the city centre (about 2 km).
The main bus station service is in the city centre. The bus service, called Mobilis, is composed by 9 lines connecting surrounding neighbourhoods and parishes of Leiria with the city centre. This includes two bus loops and a specific line (uMob) that connects the city centre with Campus 1 and 2 of theInstituto Politécnico de Leiria.
There is a smallairfield (Aérodromo José Ferrinho), used for sports and recreation.
Campus 1 - School of Education and Social Sciences (ESECS).
Campus 2 - School of Technology and Management (ESTG) and the School Of Health Sciences (ESS)
Campus 5 - Institute for Research, Development and Advanced Studies (INDEA), the Training Centre for the Courses of Technology Specialization (FOR.CET) with around 900 students, the Centre of New Opportunities (CNO), a Transfer Technology and Information Center (OTIC) and an E-Learning Unit (UED).
There is also a private institution, o Instituto Superior de Línguas e Administração (ISLA).[19]
InSecondary education, Leiria has the following schools, the first two in the center, the last in the outskirts.
Escola Secundária de Francisco Rodrigues Lobo (former Liceu)[20]
Escola Secundária de Domingos Sequeira (former Escola Comercial)[21]
Escola Secundária de Afonso Lopes Vieira, in Gândara dos Olivais, Marrazes.[22]
InPrimary education, Leiria has the following schools, teaching from the 5th grade until 9th grade.
An important facility is theEstádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, situated close to Leiria castle. The modern stadium has a capacity for 23,888 people and was built for theUEFA Euro 2004.[29] Efforts were made to sell it, as its debt (nearly €50M) overburdens the city finances,[30][31] União de Leiria rents the stadium, but played the2011-12 season inEstádio Municipal da Marinha Grande due to a rent dispute.[32]
Regarding other sports, Leiria has a notable women's handball team,Juve Lis, which plays in theWomen's Handball League, and also participated inEHF competitions.[34][35] Since 2013 Leiria has had a chess academy (Academia de Xadrez) offered as an activity for young people by the Corvos do Lis. Enrolled students have won titles in National Competitions: second place by teams under 12 years old in 2014 and 2015 and a National Champion, (Blitz, 2013, Under 8) and (Super Rapid play, 2015, under 10). They work with many primary schools in the region teaching chess, considering it a useful complement to developing intellectual skills.[36]
Leiria also holds other facilities that can host different sport activities. They are Campo Futebol Aldeia do Desporto, Centro Nacional de Lançamentos, Pavilhão Gimnodesportivo dos Pousos (and adjacent Campo da Charneca), and Pavilhão do Lis. The latter was recognized by the Portuguese Paralympic Committee has the firstparalympic inclusive venue of its kind in Portugal.[37]
Leiria was chosen as one of the European Cities of Sport in 2022.[38]
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