The district of Leiria, is divided among the traditional provinces of Beira Litoral and Estremadura, limiting at North with the district of Coimbra, at East by the district of Castelo Branco and the district of Santarém, at South with the district of Lisbon and at West by the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is 3517 km ², with a resident population in 2006.
Leiria was born from the Roman Collip, a town founded in the first century BC, which has existed on the São Sebastião hill, near Andreus, a village in the parish of Barreira, in the municipality of Leiria. The geography of Leiria is marked by long beaches and mountains of unusual landscapes.
Leiria played an important contribution in the history of the Portuguese Discoveries, since that was in his area that was planted the Leiria Pine Forest, of which, many of his wood have served for shipbuilding, which allowed the Portuguese caravels sailing to other continents. The planting of the pine forest, was initiated in the reign of King Afonso III, in the thirteenth century and was later intensified with King D. Dinis, between 1279 and 1325.
The Leiria Pine Forest, also had a great importance on other occasions, as in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when the industrial expansion and the population growth brought the need to produce charcoal, both to feed the furnaces of metallurgical and glass so important in the central region of the country, such as for the heating of the population.
From the forest areas existing in the region, it highlights the Natural Park of Serra de Aire and Candeeiros, where the landscape is dominated by limestone, which gives it an unusual beauty and the Leiria Pine Forest, planted by the King Afonso III, one of the largest natural areas in the central region.
In this district, also highlights the Alcobaça Monastery, one of the greatest examples of Portuguese Gothic architecture and the Monastery of Batalha, the most important symbol of the Avis Dynasty, between 1385 and 1582.
In the district, also highlights, the city of Marinha Grande, known for its glass industry and that provides excellent walks by the Glass Route and also it highlights the areas of Peniche and Nazaré, which attracts many visitors throughout the year.
The district of Leiria, offers a wide traditional cuisine, including meat, fish and sweets. In the coastal area, the seafood is the basis of the local gastronomy, with wonderful seafood soups, fresh fish grilled and succulent stews, as well the cod.
