Leiria


Leiria is a city and municipality in the Central Region of Portugal. It is the 2nd largest city in that same region, after Coimbra, with a municipality population of 128,640 in an area of. It is the seat of its own district and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leiria-Fátima. The city is part of the historical province of Beira Litoral.

History

The region around Leiria has long been inhabited although its early history is obscure. The first evident inhabitants were the Turduli Oppidani, a Celtici tribe, who established a settlement near present-day Leiria. This settlement was later occupied by the Romans, who expanded it under the original Celtiberian name Collippo. 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' meaning an area with small farming plots.
It was occupied by the Suebi in 414 until they were forced by the Romans to retreat to Galicia and later incorporated by Leovigild into the Visigoths kingdom in 585 A.D.
Later the Moors occupied the area until it was re-captured by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques in 1135, during the Reconquista.
South of Leiria in that period was the so-called "no-man's land", until regions further south were permanently taken and re-populated by the Christians. In 1142 Afonso Henriques gave Leiria its first foral to stimulate the colonisation of the region.
Both Afonso I of Portugal and Sancho I rebuilt the walls and the Leiria 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, built in romanesque style in the last quarter of the 12th century, served the parish located outside the walls.
During the Middle Ages the importance of the village increased, and it was the setting of several cortes. The first of the cortes held in Leiria took place in 1245, under King Afonso II. In the early 14th century, the king restored the keep tower of the citadel of the castle, as can be seen in an inscription in the tower. He also built a royal residence in Leiria, and lived for long periods in the town, which he donated as feud to his wife, Elizabeth of Portugal.
The king also ordered the plantation of the famous Pine Forest of Leiria near the coast. Later, the wood from this forest would be used to build the ships used in the Portuguese Navigations of the 15th and 16th centuries.
In the late 14th century, King John I built a royal palace within the walls of the castle of Leiria. This palace, with elegant gothic 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, 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 new foral in 1510, and, in 1545, it was elevated to the category of city and became see of a diocese.
The Cathedral of Leiria was built in the second half of the 16th century in a mix of late manueline and mannerist styles.
Compared to the Middle Ages, the subsequent history of Leiria is of relative decay. The city was stormed by the Peninsular War, namely in the French Invasions of 1808 and the Great Fire of 1811, caused by the Napoleonic troops retreating from the Lines of Torres Vedras.
In the 20th century, however, its strategic position in the Portuguese territory favoured the development of a diversified industry.

Geography

Leiria is located in western Central 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, and Pombal to the north and northeast. The city is located about halfway between Lisbon and Porto. The distance to Lisbon is, to Coimbra and to Porto. The historic city centre spreads between the castle hill and the river Lis.
Leiria is also the seat of its own sub-region, Região de Leiria, which includes the cities of Marinha Grande, Pombal as well the municipalities/town seats of Batalha, Alcobaça and Porto de Mós located nearby.

Climate

The city of Leiria has a Mediterranean climate 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, varying between in January, to 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 during the day and at night and can go below on colder days, with an average of 15 days with frost per year.
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 at day and at night.
Summers bring high temperatures and sunshine. Precipitation, when present, mostly occurs in the form of drizzle, and accounts for only around 20% of days between June and September. Sunshine hours reach their maximum in August. Average temperatures range between at day and at night, the maximum can exceed on hotter days.
Autumn, although mild, is the rainiest season of the year. Average temperatures range between and.
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. The highest temperature recorded was on 4 August 2018.

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 18 civil parishes :
took office as the Mayor of Leiria on 26 August 2019, after the resignation of his predecessor. He was re-elected following the 2025 local elections.

Local election results 1976–2025

Demographics

Culture

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, the site of the city's annual music festival. Leiria is home to the Museu da imagem em movimento as well as Portugal's restored first paper mill, Moinho do Papel, the Theatre Miguel Franco in the Mercado de Sant'Ana and the Theatre José Lúcio da Silva are venues for theatrical, musical, cinematic and dance performances.
Today the central square, Praça Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, named after the Portuguese poet Francisco 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 wrote lyric poetry in the troubadour tradition, and briefly the home of the modern realist writer Eça de Queiroz, whose first novel, O Crime do Padre Amaro, 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 of Eça de Queiroz as a theme. In here, there's senior classes and Associação Fazer Avançar runs SPEAK, with support from EDP and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, among others.
The city has several cultural entities like Leiria's Public Library Afonso Lopes Vieira, Arquivo, Ateneu, Leirena and O Nariz, Associação Fazer Avançar, FADE IN, Metamorfose, ECO and many others which make Leiria a culturally vibrant city, offering the busiest calendars of events.
In recent years, Leiria has seen much redevelopment on the banks of the Lis 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.
Since 2010, Associação FADE IN organizes ENTREMURALHAS, one of the most important gothic festivals in the world.

Gastronomy

Leiria's gastronomy offers a good variety of Portuguese dishes including fresh fish dishes and the famous "Leitão" da Boavista.
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 de Pinhão; Tarte de Chícharos ; 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, 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. which secures a superior quality. Also parte of the Portuguese wine region Encostas de Aire.

Panoramic view

Economy

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 other light industries. Agriculture, tourism, and state-run public services, such as education, health and general public administration, are an important part of Leiria's economy.
Monte Real Air Base, a major Military airbase of the Portuguese Air Force in Monte Real, where all Portuguese F16 fighter squadrons are stationed, is also notable employer in the region.