Beiras
The Central Region of Portugal
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| Moliceiro
(the boat used for transporting
seaweed), ria de Aveiro, Aveiro. |
This region is made up of two contrasting
areas. The extensive beaches and fishing
villages which lie along the coast and
the interior where mountains and plateaus
dominate the landscape.
‘Beiras’ is the traditional
name of a region running south of
Douro river and north of Tagus river.
The region is one of deep contrasts:
the Atlantic coastline, where a temperate
climate, white sandy beaches and the
Atlantic pine forests are typical,
and the interior where more forbidding
mountains and rocks set the tone.
In the heart of this hinterland rises
the Serra da Estrela (Estrela Mountain
Range), the highest in continental
Portugal. This is where the Mondego
river rises, later running down to
the city of Coimbra. Here, the river
that over the centuries has had so
many odes composed to it by generations
of university students, flows out
into the Atlantic ocean by the lengthy
Figueira da Foz beach.
Nature has blessed this region with
healing waters that in turn gave rise
to spa towns, such as Curia and Luso.
Nature’s generosity extended
to the landscape too: ancient forests
cover the mountain slopes helping
to preserve intact the treasures of
an outstanding natural area, which
has its most perfect paradigm in the
Buçaco woodlands. Monasteries,
convents, castles and churches are
witnesses to an artistic and historical
heritage whose merits and heritage
value have been agknowledged worldwide
by Unesco.
Amongst the spacious horizons of
this inland region are historic towns
and villages, many of them are guarded
by castles built by the early kings
of Portugal for the kingdom’s
defence.
In the bigger towns, such as Coimbra,
Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda or Castelo Branco,
museum collections reveal treasures
of unexpected quality. As for traditional
arts and crafts, the coastal region
has always been rich in glassworking
and ceramic skills, while inland artisans
have traditionally worked with black
clay, linen weaving, and copper and
iron.
Places of interest
Aveiro
Famous for its lagoon, this town is
crisscrossed by canals where colourfully
painted moliceiro boats sail. Deserving
a special mention the Cathedral (15th-18th
centuries) and Gothic cross; Misericórdia
Church and São Bartolomeu Chapel;
18th century churches of Santo António
and São Gonçalo. Regional
Museum, housed in the ancient Convento
de Jesus.
Belmonte
Unsurprisingly given its name, the
town is situated at the top of a hill
over which towers a fine castle. In
one of its mighty walls is a particularly
fine Manueline window showing the
flowery Gothic style characteristic
of the period of King Manuel 1st.
Beside the castle is the fine Romanesque-Gothic
church of Santiago in whose interior
is to be found a very fine statue
of the Madonna with the body of Christ,
whose simplicity and originality are
most striking. Belmonte is famous
for being the birthplace of Pedro
Álvares Cabral, the man who
in 1500 discovered Brazil. The town
is notable, too, for its Jewish community,
which has lived here without interruption
since the 14th century. Not far from
the town is Centum Cellas, a mysterious
construction from the Roman era. The
purpose of this two-story building
remains an enigma.
Buçaco
Surrounded by a majestic forest stands
the royal palace of Buçaco,
of Neo-manueline architecture, built
in the 19th century, and currently
a charming hotel. Milestones and memorials
of the victory won over the Napoleonic
army are the obelisk and the Military
Museum. Distant 1,5 miles from here
lies the thermal spa of Luso.
Castelo Branco
Around the 13th century castle lies
a medieval quarter, with its Manueline
portals. In the old Episcopal Palace,
is the Francisco Tavares Proença
Júnior Museum. Other old monuments
are the Paços do Concelho (16th-17th
centuries), Graça Convent (16th-18th
centuries), Santo António dos
Capuchos Convent (16th century), Misericórdia
Velha Church (16th-18th centuries).
Coimbra
One of Europe’s oldest university
towns, it has kept its secular academic
traditions, as seen in the black-caped
students, in the soulful tones of
the “fado de Coimbra”
(traditional song sung to the sound
of guitars by the students) and in
the Queima das Fitas, a boisterous
celebration of the students’
graduating year (Burning of the Ribbons).
Overlooking the city is the university,
with its old tower and a sumptuous
Baroque library. In the adjacent quarters
you will find the Old Cathedral (Romanesque)
and the Machado de Castro Museum,
built over a Roman cryptoportico.
In the ancient streets, with their
medieval walls, arches and stairways,
are the Santa Cruz Monastery (founded
in 1131), the church of Santiago and
the monastery of Celas (13th-century).
On the left bank of the Mondego stands
the Santa Clara-a-Nova Convent (Baroque,
17th-century). 10 miles to the south,
lies Conímbriga, the most important
Roman remains in Portugal.
Conímbriga
Conímbriga is situated 10
miles south of Coimbra. It was a point
on the Roman road that came from Sellium
(Tomar) and made its way to Aeminium
(Coimbra). It is still surrounded
by the original walls, and visitors
can see colored mosaics, as well as
figurative and patterned illustrations
in an excellent state of conservation.
There is an early Christian burial
ground and a set of hot springs. A
museum is to be found near the archaeological
site.
Figueira da Foz
| |
| Adventure
tourism on the Teixeira river,
Serra da Arada. |
Summer resort at the mouth of the
Mondego river (long sandy beaches
and water sports facilities). Special
mention to the mother-church, Casa
do Paço (17th century), Municipal
Museum, Santa Catarina Fortress (16th
century) and pelourinho.
Guarda
The walls, the towers, the old Jewish
quarter and the houses of Dom João
I and Barbadão call to mind
the days of the town’s medieval
splendor. The Cathedral, Gothic in
its origins, displays a Manueline
portal and window as well as a Renaissance
retable. Also deserving a visit are
the churches of Senhora dos Remédios
(16th century), Misericórdia
(17th century), and São Vicente
(18th century), and the Regional Museum.
On the outskirts there is the Romanesque
chapel of Nossa Senhora de Mileu (11th-12th-centuries).
Piódão, and
other historical villages
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| Piódão,
a historical village. |
These ancient population centers,
dating back before the establishment
of the Portuguese nation, are characteristic
of the Beiras region, in central Portugal.
Many are located on higher ground
because they were originally built
to defend populations in an age before
the Roman invasion. Here military
architecture prevails, the entire
settlement being surrounded by strong
walls. One exception to this prevailing
military spirit is the village of
Piódão. Examples of
typical centres are: Almeida (whose
polygon-shaped fortress was in the
18th century considered unassailable);
Castelo Mendo, Castelo Novo, Castelo
Rodrigo, Idanha-a-Velha (with Roman
remains and a cathedral of Visigothic
origin); Linhares da Beira, Marialva,
Piódão and Sortelha.
Worthy of mention is Monsanto, which
is built on the site of the ancient
Lusitanian fortified camp of Serra
de Penha Garcia and has a pousada
with splendid views.
Monsanto
This historic village encloses the
ancient Lusitanian settlement of Serra
de Penha Garcia, the 12th-century
castle and beautiful manor houses
(18th-century), the mother-church
and Misericórdia Church (16th-century).
There is a pousada with a nice view
over the landscape. Nearby stands
the Roman-Visigothic chapel of Vira
Corça.
Viseu
With fortifications of the probable
camps left by the imperial legions
from Rome, the town keeps remains
of the Gothic walls and the ancient
doors of the 15th-16th centuries.
Not to miss: Grão Vasco Museum,
with important painting collections;
the Cathedral, of Romanesque origin;
the church of Terceiros de São
Francisco, the Néris Convent,
and the São Teotónio
Hospital. Also worth a visit are the
17th century church of the monastery
of Jesus and the town’s Historic
Museum.
Other places of interest
Águeda, Aguiar da Beira, Anadia,
Almeida, Arganil, Arouca (monastery),
Belmonte, Caramulo, Celorico da Beira,
Covilhã, Curia (spa), Figueira
de Castelo Rodrigo, Fundão,
Gouveia, Idanha-a-Nova, Idanha-a-Velha,
Ílhavo, Linhares da Beira,
Lorvão, Lourinhã, Mangualde,
Marialva, Mealhada, Minde, Mira, Monte
Real (spa), Montemor-o-Velho, Oliveira
do Hospital, Penamacor, Pombal, Porto
de Mós, Proença-a-Velha,
S. Pedro do Sul (spa), Seia, Serra
da Estrela (6,335 ft high, winter
sports), Sortelha, Trancoso, Vouzela.
For more information on the region
visit the Websites
page
Local gastronomy
- Fish and seafood
- Roast suckling pig and lamb stew
- Sausages and smoked meats
- Cheeses: Serra da Estrela, Alcains,
Castelo Branco
- Sweets: custard cream, hard and
sweet biscuits and pancakes, egg
sweets and sponge cake (ovos-moles,
pão-de-ló)
- Wines: Dão, Lafões,
rosé, and Bairrada table
and sparkling wines.
Handicrafts
- Vista Alegre porcelain
- Hand-painted ceramics from Coimbra
- Linen, wool and cotton
- Embroidered silk bedspreads from
Castelo Branco
- Ceramics and black pottery
- Lace (bilros)
- Copper and wrought-iron works
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