Leiria – Batalha – Alcobaça – Nazaré

Also a very nice daytrip, 1,5 hour away from Mortágua to the south is the area around the city of Leiria. All the sightings are close to each other and there are plenty of opportunities to have a rest and eat or drink.

Leiria is the provincial capital and has nice old streets and a castle on the top of a hill in the city centre.

Close to Batalha, at Aljubarrota, is the ground on which the Portuguese in 1385, with King Joao I won the battle with Castillia (Spain), although outnumbered. It is commemorated with a fast monastery in Batalha. At the battlegrounds in Aljubarrota is a modern museum, Fundação Batalha de Aljubarrota. It tells with exhibitions about how the battle was won, and you can see artefacts. The museum also shows a award winning film about the battle, a must see.

In Alcobaça is also a monastery, one of the biggest in Portugal and also Unesco heritage. This is where severall kings and queens are buried, amongst whom the famous King Pedro I and his mistress Inês de Castro. The fastness of the monastery is really impressive. The centre of Alcobaça is also very charming.

You can get a breath of fresh air in Nazaré, an old fishing town, Allong the boulevard there are plenty of excellent fish restaurants. From the old centre you can take funiculair to the hill north of the town. This is also a lively part, with shops and restaurants. When you walk to the phare on the coast you can witness the spot where are one of the highest and biggest waves in the world. It is a well known spot for surfers, and world championships are being held here.