Central Portugal

The University of Coimbra is Portugal's most highly regarded higher education institute.
It is also the oldest, founded in 1290, which makes it one of the oldest in Europe

The Palce of Bucaco (Bussaco) is typical Manueline style. Completed in 1907 as the summer palace of Carlos I, its role was short lived as Carlos was assinated a year later bringing the monarchy in Portugal to an end.
It is built on the site of a Carmelite monastery and set in 250 acres of woodland.
It is now a hotel

Built on the site of the Carmelite monastery which was largely torn down to make way for the royal hunting lodge and palace of Carlos I.
Carlos was assassinated in 1908 a few years after the lodge was completed

Located just to the north-east of Coimbra off the Viseu road is the village of Buçaco.
Set amongst a mountain cypress forest the area has a rich history including palaces and monasteries

The traditional high prowed fishing boats of Nazaré. The design dates back to the Phoenicians and can also be found in Malta.
There is now a harbour in the town but you'll still see the boats pulled up on the beach as they have been for 100's of years

A traditional fishing boat in Nazare pulled up on to the beach and out of harms way.
The hish prow give it a similar styling to those used by the Phoenicians and Maltese

View of the 14th century castle in Leiria. Although originally built in the 12th century the castle was repeatedly destroyed by the Moors

The small city of Torres Vedras is situated about an hour north of Lisbon and a few kilometres inland. Although not immediately bursting with character there are a few sights worth seeing, many of which are concentrated in the jumble of cobbled streets that run down from the castle. This is also a town with a long and rich history.

Peniche is a coastal town an hour's drive north of Lisbon. Peniche was an island until the sixteenth century, when silt created a narrow isthmus. It has been a busy fishing port since ancient times and retains a historical harbour and harbour walls. The old, walled part of town (which is in stark contrast to the burgeoning development all around it) is dominated by an impressive sixteenth century Fortaleza.

Ourém is a town and municipality in central Portugal, near the city of Leiria. Ourem is mostly visited for its ruined castle and palace, which date back to the Moorish occupation that began in the eighth century. Ourem, then called Abdegas, was reclaimed by the Portuguese during the twelfth century Christian Reconquista and given the new name of Portus de Auren. Legend has it that the name Ourem was given to the town by Fatima, a Moorish princess who was kidnapped by a Christian knight.