Location
Leiria District is located on the Centre of Portugal, with a big atlantic coast side and a not too high mountain range side on the east.
Description
Wide sandy beaches all over the coast on the western side of the district, and limestone mountain ranges on the east side.
There are several important religious monuments in the area (Alcobaça and Batalha monasteries), filled with history and art, being the most important the Sanctuary of Fatima. Fátima's claim to fame is the shrine called the Sanctuary of Fátima, built to commemorate the events of 1917 when three peasant children affirmed to have seen the "Virgin of the Rosary", Our Lady of Fatima.
In Leiria’s District one can come across Fishermen’s villages, Castles, Cathedrals, Natural Reserves, Caves, Ancient Human Presence, Dinosaur’s vestiges and Forests.
Gastronomy
This is a very rich area for Gastronomy having the sea and the rivers, and the mountain ranges for meat and sheep. Also the soil is fertile for vegetables plantations.
Therefore, one can find all over the district dishes prepared with a large variety of Seafood on the coast side (stews, grilled, boiled, fried or even roasted), with a large variety of fresh Shellfish, and on the eastern part of the district, dishes prepared with Meat (Pork, Cattle, Little and Big Game) and Vegetables (mainly with Collards). Sweets and Desserts are prepared mainly with Eggs, Milk, large amounts of Sugar, Honey, Cinnamon, Almonds and other Dried Fruits.
