Beira Coast - Beira Litorale

Beira Coast

Location
State	Portugal

Beira Coast is a region of North-central Portugal

To know

Geographical notes

The ancient province of Beira Litorale roughly corresponds to today's administrative districts of Coimbra is Aveiro.

The province bordered to the north with that of Douro Litoral, to the west with the Atlantic Ocean, to the east with the Beira Alta is Low, southeast with the Ribatejo and southwest with theExtremadura.

Background

La Beira Litorale was an ancient province (or natural region) of the Portugal, formally established with an administrative reform of 1936. The provinces had no practical function and disappeared with the Constitution of 1976. Its territory largely corresponded to the ancient Douro Province which disappeared in the 19th century.

The region had 33 municipalities, with most of the districts of Aveiro and Coimbra, half of that of Leiria and one municipality of that of Santarém. Its capital was Coimbra.

Territories and tourist destinations

Beira Litorale: full screen map.

Urban centers

Aveiro district

40.6413-8.65461 Aveiro - Lagoon city, known as the "Venice of Portugal".
40.902-8.48992 São João da Madeira - Very touristy town, in the first places on a national scale for quality of life.
40.761-8.7083 Torreira - Another lagoon town with a vast beach which is very popular in summer.
40.835-8.58064 Válega - Village famous for the decoration of its monuments in azulejos as well as for the rustic restaurants, all lined up along the main road (Estrada Nacional) 109 from Port to Aveiro.

Coimbra district

40.207-8.4285 Coimbra - Capital of Portugal before Lisbon and home to the oldest university in country.
40.15-8.8576 Figueira da Foz - Port and renowned seaside resort on the mouth of the Mondego river.
40.0292-8.39117 Penela
40.2291-7.82548 Piódão - Fraction of the Coimbra district.
40.457-8.7989 Praia de Mira - Parish (freguesia) of the district of Mira.

Leiria district

40.0046-8.209810 Castanheira de Pera - Small town popular for the abundance of water (lakes and waterfalls).
39.7446-8.807911 Leiria - City famous for its castle and a long coastline bordered by dense pine forests.
39.9175-8.628512 Pombal - Town famous for its castle, built by the Knights Templar and linked to the figure of Marquis of Pombal who spent the last years of his life there after falling out of favor with the queen Maria.

Other destinations

40.0985-8.49031 Conímbriga - Ruins of the ancient Roman city destroyed by the Swabians in the 5th century AD. C.
40.86113-8.117092 Drave - Charming village abandoned by local stone houses (pedra lousinha) in a remote area between the Serre da Freita, de São Macário and da Arada, part of the Aruca geopark.
39.6-9.0666673 Nazaré - Important beach in the region.