Leiria is a beautiful city with rich historical traditions, to which local residents dedicate an interesting holiday every year. In July, they organize an annual festival of the medieval culture known as Leiria Medieval. The 3-day program of this event invariably attracts lots of tourists. The main venue of the festival is a historic castle that dates back to the early 12th century. It was built by order of the first king of Portugal Afonso Henriques. Now the ancient castle serves as an important cultural center for townspeople.
In Leiria, travelers have many interesting attractions to explore. They can visit the legendary stadium Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, which was built specifically for the period of the … Open
1. Leiria is a fairly small city so it's comfortable to explore its attractions and most beautiful places on foot. The main form of public transport is the bus, by which one can get to any … Open
For tourists, the festival is a great opportunity to buy unusual souvenirs as a keepsake of the trip. The selection of souvenirs at local fairs is huge, from traditional spices and handmade jewelry to rare delicacies and handicrafts made by local artisans. Such a beautiful historical festival is a chance to get acquainted with the centuries-old local customs.
The summer season in Leiria is also rich in other interesting holidays. In early June, the city hosts the International Modern Music Festival. Among its participants are famous performers of jazz, classical music, fado, and other music genres. This festival is always open to talented beginners, its program lasts several weeks.
Leiria residents are very friendly and cheerful people who always pay due attention to their culture and are very welcoming to foreign guests. The Portuguese town is characterized by a very calm atmosphere. Even in the busy center of the city, there are almost no high-rise buildings. Most of its area is occupied by three- and four-story buildings, which make the appearance of the city very cute and harmonious. Nevertheless, the townspeople are used to a very modern and active rhythm of life.
In Leiria, you can visit lots of interesting stores and souvenir shops. One of the best shoe stores in town is Calzados. It sells shoes for both men and women, this store won recognition of … Open
All tourists can feel like real locals here. Foreign travelers discovered Leiria relatively recently, the number of tourists increased significantly after 2004 when the UEFA European Football Championship was held in the city. Today, the city has quite a few tourist-oriented restaurants, cultural and entertainment centers. Going to a park or a restaurant, one can spend time together with the townspeople, observe their behavior and appreciate their cheerful and enthusiastic attitude to life.