Nestling close to the Atlantic on Portugal’s rugged west
coast, the bright and airy town of Marinha Grande is surrounded
by 10,000 metres of pine forest (Pinhal Real) planted by King
Dinis I in the 13th century.
It is most famous for its glass manufacturing industry, which
was first established in the middle of the 18th century. What to see. The Royal Glass Factory (Real
Fábrica de Vidros) was started by Englishman John Beare
in 1748. William Stephens bought what was then a small factory
in 1769 and developed it under the protection of the Marquês
de Pombal, who lent him 80,000 cruzados and gave him the right
to cut wood in parts of the forest. In 1826, the factory was
given to the state and became one of the country’s main
producers of fine crystal made in the traditional way. Nearby. A short drive from Marinha Grande to
the north of Leiria stands the fine baroque church of Milagres,
whose azulejo tiles dating back to 1795 describe the miracle
(milagre in Portuguese) of a local peasant restored to health
after being paralysed by a fall.
The beach of São Pedro de Moel to the west is one of
the most popular holiday resorts in the region.
