HOLIDAYS IN CENTRAL PORTUGAL  


Beiras

Regions in Central Portugal : Baixo Mondego, Baixo Vouga, Beira Interior Norte, Beira Interior Sul, Cova da Beira, Dão-Lafões, Médio Tejo, Pinhal Interior Norte, Pinhal Interior Sul, Pinhal Litoral, Serra da Estrela and Oeste.

Cities inside this region : Aveiro, Viseu, Leiria, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Figueira da Foz, Guarda, Pinhel, Mealhada, Pombal, Tomar, Abrantes, Torres Vedras, Torres Novas, Peniche, Águeda and Caldas da Rainha.

Stretching from the Spanish frontier to the sea, the Beiras region of central Portugal provides a natural link between the cool, green meadows of the north and the hot, dry pastures of the south.
The curative springs and the lush vegetation of secular forests have preserved all the rewards of their unspoilt nature. The monasteries, convents, castles, churches, and museums witness the priceless historic and artistic heritage of renowned universal value.

Capital of Central  Portugal : Coimbra.


car hire, holiday homes, hotels, tour operators, travel guides, travelling to central portugal 

links


Car Rental  

  Sixt   -    

  Holiday Autos   -    
Holiday Autos offers the best fully inclusive car hire prices. Get cheap car hire quickly and securely online with holidayautos.co.uk, the experts in online car rental.

 
From Enhanced Hertz Driving Directions to Emergency Roadside Assistance, check out the many reasons why Hertz is #1 in Car Rental

Holiday Homes Central Portugal / Apartments

Interhome   -   Holiday homes in Beiras
All properties are checked on a regular basis. All homes can be booked on-line. Properties are shown by destination.

  Portugalvacances.com   -   Villas and holidays in Portugal at affordable prices
  Holiday Rentals

Hotels Beiras / Pousadas

  Hotels in Beiras   -   Hotel Guide Beiras
Hotels in Coimbra, Fátima, Aveiro, Tomar, Leiria, Figueira da Foz, Luso, Batalha, Torreira, Curia, Vagos, Praia de Mira

  Hotels Beira Interior   -   Guarda, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Manteigas, Almeida

  Hotels Beira Litoral   -   Castelo Branco and Quinta da Granja

  Hotels in Coimbra

  Pousadas   -   lodgings where you can appreciate the traditional regional gastronomy
Dozens of state-run Pousadas, strategically situated in or near major tourist destinations throughout the country, almost invariably offering the most comfortable accommodations and, often, the finest food in the area.

Nature

  Serra da Estrela Natural Park
Situated in the Serra da Estrela, and is the source of the rivers Mondego, Zêzere (tributary of the Tagus), and Alva. The park is the largest natural conservation area in Portugal. See Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade [ English and Portuguese language

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

  
Create your perfect trip to Central Portugal   -   Flight, Hotel and Car



  Secret Destinations Holidays

Travel Guides Beiras / Destination Guides

Amazon.com - Travel Guides Beiras 

Transportation / How do I travel to Beiras

  Coimbra Airport

 
Book cheap flights to Beiras / Coimbra at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

  Airline Tickets Central Portugal / Discount Flights Beiras

   -   Ferry Portsmouth to Bilbao
P&O Ferries is one of the most well known and trusted brands. Wherever you are travelling to, on holiday or on business, P&O Ferries offers a wide range of routes: Dover to Calais, Portsmouth to Bilbao, Portsmouth to Cherbourg, Portsmouth to Le Havre, Hull to Rotterdam and Hull to Zeebrugge


Links

  Tourist Board Centro de Portugal
Destinations (explore Centro's destinations), Events (What's on at Centro), News, What ot do (explore all possibilities), Plan your holiday (how to get there and where to stay).

  Região Centro    -   Government Central Portugal

  Coimbra   -   Capital of the region Beira
City of knowledge, of students and poets, Coimbra has a romantic aura that makes it unique in the national scenery. The monuments, the University students' centenarian black garment and the traditional fado of Coimbra take us to other times, showing a Portugal of traditions, identity and culture.

  Baixo Mondego
Subregion comprising the lower part of the Mondego River and located around the chief city of Coimbra.
  Baixo Vouga
  Beira Interior Norte
  Beira Interior Sul
  Cova da Beira
  Dão-Lafões
  Médio Tejo
  Pinhal Interior Norte
  Pinhal Interior Sul
  Pinhal Litoral
  Serra da Estrela
  Oeste.

  Serra da Estrela   -   highest mountain range in Continental Portugal
There is a ski resort at the summit, named Vodafone Ski Resort.

  Almeida   -   fortress town   -   Camera Municipal Almeida
Almeida is about 760 meters altitude, in the central region of the country, south of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, north of Sambucus. The old fortress around the town guards an important cross-border road from Spain.
  Aveiro   -   Town of Aveiro
The City is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and an industrial city with an important seaport. It's  the second most populous city in the Centro Region of Portugal, after Coimbra. The city is known for its production of salt and seaweed harvest, which is used for fertilizer in the area. Aveiro is sometimes called "The Portuguese Venice", because of its canals and boats.
  Castelo Rodrigo   -   Municipio Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo 
Located in the northeast quadrant of Portugal, in the heart of the region of Riba Coa, the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo is composed of 17 parishes scattered over an area of ​​508.72 km2. To the east it borders the Spanish province of Salamanca.
In the town a memorial stone that marks the place of a fierce battle in 1664. Visitors can view the remains of the castle, its tower and a palace.
  Castelo Branco   -   Municiplaity of Castelo Branco 
Castelo Branco is home to the Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, a state-run polytechnic institute of higher education, comprising schools of agriculture, technology, management, education, art and health.
  Celorico da Beira [ Câmara Municipal ]
  Covilha   -   town of wool and snow
Covilhã is one of the main urban centres of the historical Beira Interior region. The proximity of the mountains offers exquisite scenery and a great environment if you're fond of hiking, camping, mountain climbing and skiing [ the city has a role as a winter and mountain resort ]. Covilhã has a public university - the University of Beira Interior (UBI). Covilhã is traditionally a center of wool and textile industries - the university central building was the Royal Textile Factory, established by the Marquis of Pombal in the 18th century.
  Guarda   -   Municipality of Guarda 
Guarda is the capital of the Guarda District and the largest city in the district. The municipality is composed of 55 parishes. Guarda is the highest city in Portugal [ 1,056 m ], located to the northeast of Serra da Estrela (the largest mountain in mainland Portugal). The main attraction in Guarda is the cathedral, known as the Sé da Guarda.
  Figueira da Foz   -   port city and second largest city in Coimbra District
Figueira da Foz is located at the mouth of the Mondego River with the Atlantic Ocean. It is known for being considered the "Queen of the Silver Coast"for its long beaches. Recently the Mondego Cape, a promontory in the Serra da Boa Viagem in the vicinity of Figueira da Foz, was declared a Natural Monument National. Economic activities in the region: especially fishing, glass industry, tourism-related activities, shipbuilding, manufacture of pulp, salt industry and, as might be expected, agriculture. See Figueiradigital.com 
  Leiria
Leiria is located in the Centro Region and sub region of Pinhal Litoral, about halfway between Lisbon and Porto. The distance to Lisbon is 135 km, to Coimbra 72 km and to Porto 179 km.
  Viseu   -   Câmara Municipal de Viseu 
The city is noted on the arts scene due to the Grão Vasco Museum and the Teatro Viriato. Wine making (Dao wines) is an important activity in the region. In ancient Portuguese history, Viseu is noted as one of the major urban centers in the area where Viriathus, a legendary warrior and national hero, lived.

  Aveiro Lagoon [ Ria de Aveiro ]
On the Atlantic coast of Portugal, south the municipalitiy of Espinho and north of Mira. The Lagoon is known for its biodiversity, which has developed in this unique brackish water environment. Tides of the Atlantic provide the area with plenty of fresh salt water, the mouths of the rivers provide fresh water supplies. In the area of ​​the city of Aveiro Ria is used for salt production: At high tide, salt water is directed to specific fields, which evaporates by the sun and leaving crystallized salt. The salt is piled in heaps that dominate the landscape as a white cone.
  Castles in the border region of Centro with Spain
Most of the castles, date back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, are classified as national monuments. Castles or parts of castles still stand at Alfaiates, Sortelha, Vilar Maior, Sabugal, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Bom, Castelo Rodrigo, Penamacor, Monsanto, Pinhel and Almeida.
  Castelo de Celorico da Beira
Castle Celorico, whose foundation dates back to centuries XII / XIII, is typologically classified as a Romanesque-Gothic castle. It has two entrances, one to the west and one east, and two turrets adjoining the south side of the Wall. See Wikipedia 
  Ski   -   Vodaphone ski resort 
Serra da Estrela in Portugal is a small ski resort with just 4 ski lifts with only 130 m of vertical descent. It has 9 pistes with a total length of 7.7 kilometers. The nearest airport is at Porto and the nearest train station to Serra da Estrela is at Covilh. See Skiserradaestrela.com.
  Wool museum
Former Real Fábrica de Panos [ Royal Textile Factory ], an important national woollens manufacturer established by Marquês de Pombal in 1764. The buildings are now in use by the University of Beira interior.  See Museu_de_Lanificios

  Coimbraiparque.pt 

  Polytechnic Institute of Leiria
Courses in various areas of knowledge: Arts and Design; Entrepreneurial and Legal Sciences; Education and Communication; Engineering and Technology; Health; and Tourism.
It's mission is to promote knowledge, create, transmit and disseminate culture, science, technology and arts, guided research and experimental development.
  Sporting Club da Covilha
Sporting Covilhã is one of the oldest and historic clubs in Portuguese football. Their nickname is the Leões da Serra, meaning "Lions of the Mountain Range," due to Covilhã's location in the Serra de Estrela.
  University of Coimbra   -   oldest Portuguese university and the largest in the region
The University of Coimbra has ca. 20,000 students, and hosts one of the largest communities of international students in Portugal
  Aveiro University   -   Universidade de Aveiro
  University of Beira Interior   -   Universidade da Beira Interior [ UBI ]
Public university located in the city of Covilhã.

  Radio   -   Radio Universidade de Coimbra

Cuisine

Traditional foods such as cheese, sausages and mountain honey.

History Central Portugal

In the earliest years of the Christian Reconquista, just before the arise of a Portuguese national identity, the region was a battleplace for Muslim Moors and Christian crusaders. See History Beiras / History Centro Region [ Centro's historic villages, The frontier castles ].

  Duchy of Aveiro
  History of Aveiro
  History Viseu

  Museu Municipal Dr. Santos Rocha [ Figueira da Foz ]
  Núcleo Museológico do Mar Figueira da Foz ]
  Núcleo Museológico do Sal [ [ Figueira da Foz ]
For centuries, the production of small crystals of regular salt, free of impurities, was used in large quantities by the local fishing fleet (cod and sardines). It was also used in the Beira district for the preservation of meats and cheeses and exported in brigs and schooners as far north as the Baltic or New England.

Music, Art & Culture   -   Entertainment & Events

  Coimbra Portuguese guitar [ guitarra portuguesa ]
With twelve steel strings, strung in six courses comprising two strings each. 470 mm of free string length. See Playing the Lisbon Portuguese Guitarra by Ronald Louis Fernández and Fado Coimbra Serenata Monumental Queima at Youtube [ and don't cry ].

  Conservatório de Música de Coimbra

  Companhia de Teatro das Beiras   -   theatre company
Seated in Travessa da Tapa. Offers professional and high quality performances.
  Grão Vasco Museum [ Viseu ]   -   see Instituto dos Museus e da Conservação
  Museu de Arte Sacra [ Sé Catedral, Viseu ]
  Teatro Viriato [ Viseu ]

Like other university towns Covilhã has an intense nightlife.

  Guitarra Magica Fado
Basic techniques for the Portuguese Coimbra Guitar (Portuguese language).
ISBN 9728019076.

Web Portal / Directories

  Portal regioacentro.net
  Portal de Aveiro 
  Portal Viseu
  Photo's from Coimbra

  Asbeiras Online


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