Central Portugal

Central Portugal has a green rugged landscape. It is a mountainous area with several plateaus, river valleys and forests of pine and chestnut trees. There are the beaches of the Silver coast, a booming area of property development. The beautiful coastal Aveiro Lagoon. The ski resorts of the Serra da Estrela mountain range, including the artificial slope at Seia. The castles of Tomar and Obidos and the holy shrine of Fatima.

The central region played a vital role in the expansion of the Portuguese nation throughout the world. Tomar was home to the Order of the Knights Templar in Portugal. The Knights helped the newly formed Portuguese kingdom beat the occupying Moors. In return they recieved large tracts of land an political influence in the region. This influence continued until 1314 when the Catholic church, scared by the order's power, suppressed the order. The Portugues king at the time, Dom Dinis passed the assets of the knights Templar to a new Order of Christ, the assets were then used by the Portuguese explorer Henry the Navigator to fund his voyages of discovery.

The major city in the central region of Portugal is Coimbra on the banks of the Mondego river, 40km inland from Figueira da Foz. It was the capital of Portugal from 1139 until 1260. There are many monuments in the city dating from this time. Coimbra is a city of culture and is sometimes refered to as the city of students. It hosts one of the oldest universities in Europe founded in 1290. It is Portugal's most important higher education and research instiutions.

Other major towns and cities in the Central region of Portugal are Santarem, the capital of the Ribatejo district. The defensive fortress of Castelo Branco near the Spanish border. Leiria with its royal castle. Guarda, Portugal's highest city. Viseau with its labyrinth of narrow streets and Aveiro, the Venice of Portugal with its collection of canals.