Leiria is a city in Portugal .

Geography and Location

Leiria is located halfway between Lisbon and Porto. It is the seat of the district of Leiria.

Climate

Leiria has a proximity with Atlantic Ocean, therefore Spring and Summer months are usually sunny and the temperatures very high during July and August, with highs usually above 30°C only rarely reaching 40°C. Autumn and Winter are typically rainy and windy, yet sunny days are not rare either, the temperatures rarely fall below 5°C, usually staying at an average of 10°C. Leiria's climate is classified as Atlantic-Mediterranean.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the population of the city is 50,200. The city is divided into 6 parishes, and the municipality as a whole has a population of 119,870 in 29 parishes.

History

Leiria has a long history, having been known to the Romans as Collipo. After being held by the Moors for some time, it was captured by King Afonso I in the 12th century. In 1254, King Afonso III held a cortes (parliament) in the city. In the 14th century, King Dinis restored the city's old castle, which was originally built in the 12th century, for use as a royal residence. The castle, located on a hill in the centre of Leiria, remains a prominent feature of the city today.

Events

The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly called EURO 2004 took place in several stadiums in Portugal, one of them "Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Stadium" situated down the hill of the castle.

Economy

Leiria, has an economy concentrated on services. It also has several industries related with plastics and mouldes.

Transportation

Leiria is connected to its suburbs and the rest of Portugal by a motorway network. There are two motorways paasing the city; the A1 and the A8.

Colleges and Universities

Leiria hosts a regional public institution, the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria [1].

External links

• [2] Câmara Municipal of Leiria.