| Coimbra City is the Capital of this region, Centro de Portugal, known as "Beira Litoral". The area is dominated by mountains and plateaus with pine forests and pure, crystal clear rivers. Winters can be cold, although still mild compared to the rest of Europe. Summers are hot and dry. The highest point in mainland Portugal, the Serra da Estrela (1,991m) sports winter skiing, a two hour drive away. The Atlantic coastline is only one & a half hours drive away. The Portuguese people enjoy their outdoor summer activities so you will find river swimming, picnic and barbecue areas throughout this picturesque region of Central Portugal. For information on Places to Visit, Please click on the side photographs |
| Visit Central Portugal |
| In Portugal villages, towns and cities are divided into 3 main categories. As a rough guide : Cidade A city with roughly 10,000 plus inhabitants. Vila A town with up to roughly 10,000 inhabitants. Freguesia A Parish with status of a Vila Aldeia A village with a few to a couple of hundred inhabitants. |
| Coimbra District is made up of 17 Municipalities Arganil Cantanhede Coimbra Condeixa-a-Nova Figueira da Foz Góis Lousã Mira Miranda do Corvo Montemor-o-Velho Oliveira do Hospital Pampilhosa da Serra Penacova Penela Soure Tábua Vila Nova de Poiares |
PLEASE NOTE THIS PAGE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION
| Coimbra |
| Fatima |
| Montemor-o-Velho |
| Figueira de Foz |
| Bucaco |
| Lousa |
| Mira |
| Conimbriga |
| Penela |
| Piodao |
Moinhos de Gavinhos,
| During the 15th and 16th Centuries, Portugal acquired a vast colonial empire in India, the Far East, Brazil and Africa, which brought great wealth and world status to the country. Throughout the 17th Century, the increasing Dutch, English and French expansion into the spice and slave trades, undermined Portugal's monopoly, thus weakening her empire. At home, Portugal was further weakened by: > An earthquake and tsunami in 1755, which virtually destroyed the capital city of Lisbon and claimed between 60,000 to 100,000 lives. >The Napoleonic Wars of 1803-1805. >The loss of its largest Colony, Brazil, in 1822. In 1910, a revolution deposed the Monarchy, the Royal Household of Braganza, and Portugal was declared a Republic. A military coup in 1926 installed a right-wing military government. The finances of the country were taken over by an Economics Professor from the University of Coimbra, António de Oliveira Salazar, who In 1932 was elected Prime Minister with absolute power. In 1974 the "Carnation Revolution" deposed Salazar's ruling regime and the new Democratic Government granted independence to its remaining overseas Colonies. Many Portuguese returned from these Colonies, generating an economic recover. In 1986 Portugal entered the European Economic Community (now the EU) and in 1999 adopted the Euro as its official currency. Under the Global Peace Index, Portugal rated 9th in 2007 (UK 49th) and 7th in 2008 (UK 49th). |
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