Leiria

Urban nucleus district headquarters. City located on a hillside and valley. Medieval city, structured in the 13th and 14th centuries, having consolidated itself in the 15th and 16th centuries. The historic center acquired its current limits only at the end of the 19th century and during the 20th century. Like most Portuguese cities, the defensive function is at the origin of the city and the place of settlement chosen is close to a river course. D. Afonso Henriques decided to build the Castle of Leiria to mark a strategic defensive position at the time of the reconquest.

Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Cathedral , north transept
The Cathedral of Leiria is a sober, mannerist building, whose construction began in 1559, following the demolition of the Church of São Martinho (between 1546 and 1549), and the opening of the new square. On May 22, 1545 the Diocese of Leiria was ...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Palace, aerial
Paços Novos, Paços do Castelo, or Paços Reais, with quadrangular plan, in the dimensions of 33m x 21m was the residence palace. It consists of lateral towers of 4 floors and a central body of 3. On the lower floor, there is a large hall with three...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Aerial
Romanesque and Gothic castle, with extensive intervention in the 20th century. It is of polygonal plan, with a strong defensive system surrounding the central stronghold where the Paço Real, a Gothic construction, whose "loggia" dominates the city...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Church of Senhora da Pena, nave
Church of Nossa Senhora da Pena or Church of Santa Maria da Pena was the first temple in Leiria, being documented in the 40's of the 12th century. This castle chapel was completely redone in the reigns of D. João I and D. Manuel I, with nothing le...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Church of Senhora da Pena, portal
Church of Nossa Senhora da Pena or Church of Santa Maria da Pena was the first temple in Leiria, being documented in the 40's of the 12th century. This castle chapel was completely redone in the reigns of D. João I and D. Manuel I, with nothing le...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Palace, Audience hall
Paços Novos, Paços do Castelo, or Paços Reais, with quadrangular plan, in the dimensions of 33m x 21m was the residence palace. It consists of lateral towers of 4 floors and a central body of 3. On the lower floor, there is a large hall with three...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Palace, Loggia
Paços Novos, Paços do Castelo, or Paços Reais, with quadrangular plan, in the dimensions of 33m x 21m was the residence palace. It consists of lateral towers of 4 floors and a central body of 3. On the lower floor, there is a large hall with three...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Bell tower
Bell Tower, access door to the primitive fortified enclosure, in a pentagonal shape and with Romanesque arches and staves containing orbicular or templar cruciform signs. In the 13th century it was adapted as a bell tower of the neighboring Church...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Door of Betrayal
Door of Betrayal and False Ruins, torn on a wall cloth to the west almost completely restored in the 1930s, marks the site of the original door, where Muslims are believed to have entered one of the castle's outlets. There are also false ruins typ...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, north walls, Medieval granaries
Medieval granaries, a set of three granaries dating from the 13th century, vaulted in masonry, which should have been finished off by wooden and mud construction, which is now missing.
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Interior courtyard
Interior courtyard, of historical and architectural interest, is a testament to the monument's restoration policies in the 20th century, with an emphasis on options for false ruin and intentionally unfinished work.
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Cathedral, transept
The diocese of Leiria was created in 1545, the same year that Leiria was elevated to a city. The Cathedral of Leiria is a sober mannerist building, whose construction started in 1559, following the demolition of the Church of São Martinho (between...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Castle, Keep
The Main Tower, prismatic in plan, rising to 17 meters high (some added during its reconstruction), is divided internally into three floors topped by a terrace and crowned by square merlons. Ordered to execute on the foundations of a previous towe...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Cathedral, facade
The diocese of Leiria was created in 1545, the same year that Leiria was elevated to a city. The Cathedral of Leiria is a sober mannerist building, whose construction started in 1559, following the demolition of the Church of São Martinho (between...
Santiago Ribas - 360portugal
Leiria, Museum, Convent of Santo Agostinho, aerial
Religious complex, classified as a monument of public interest, with Mannerist and Baroque features. Between 1577 and 1579, shortly after the elevation of Leiria to the city and the diocese (1545), the construction of the Church and Convent of Ere...