Once the southern outpost of the early Portuguese kingdom, Leiria
on the River Liz was repeatedly attacked by the Moors, its castle
destroyed and rebuilt four times.
Originally the Roman town of Collipo, it was recaptured from
the Moors by Afonso Henriques in the 12th century. Between Leiria
and the Atlantic Ocean to the west stretches a great pine forest,
originally planted by King Dinis to secure the shifting sand
dunes and supply wood for ship building. What to see. Leiria's castle was built in 1324 by King
Dinis as a fortress and summer palace for himself and his queen,
Isabel of Aragon. Below the castle is the small 12th-century
Romanesque church of São Pedro. Nearby. Marinha Grande 12 km to the west of Leiria has
a glass factory originally founded by Englishman John Beare
in 1748. The abbey at Batalha 11 km south is one of Portugal's
most important monuments.
