Located in the centre of Portugal, Leiria is a city with a long history. The town gained prominence in the 12-th century as the southern outpost of the early Portuguese kingdom, in the defence against the Moors. Leiria castle was attacked and destroyed repeatedly.
Sights in town include the Castle of Leiria, the present version built in 1324 by King Dinis as a fortress and summer palace for himself and his queen, Isabel of Aragon. Below the castle is the small 12th-century Romanesque Igreja de São Pedro.
Excursions can be made to Marinha Grande, 12 km to the west, which has a glass factory originally founded by Englishman John Beare in 1748. Another option is the short trip south to Batalha, where the Gothic Abbey is the main attraction.