Here's a brief
presentation:
Leiria was a prosperous medieval, economical trade
centre. In 1545, Leiria was chosen by Pope Paul III, for the
Bishop's headquarters. It is a site of remarcable setting of
monuments of modern centuries.
Leiria was founded by D. Afonso Henriques in 1135
in a region of a great amount of Roman and pre-historical
archaeological elements. Not far from Leiria, there was "civitas"
of Collippo. Its castle was set upon a herculean doleritic cliff
for defensive military purposes.
Inside the castle, there are several points of
interest; The Gates of the Castle, romanic gates refferred in
medieval documents as "Albacara" (an Arabian word for cattle
ground);The Guards House, designed by the architect Ernesto
Korrodi; The Bell Tower, an important doorway to the primitive
fortified precinct; The Church of Sta. Maria da Pena, a Gothic
example of a rare beauty; The ruins of the Collegiate Church, a
site of archaeological interest; The New Palace, ordered by King D.
João I, it is one of the most manificent of the Portuguese Midlle
Ages; The Interior Yard, of both historical and architectonic
interest; The Donjon, an architechtonic military monument of great
historical and archaeological importance. Ordered by King D. Dinis
in 1324. This tower was used as a royal prison. A gothic
stone inscribed with royal coats of arms is a determinant feature
near the porch of entrance to the interior.
The hunt:
Because this is a public monument (Open from 10am to
5h30pm) with people around, a regular cache doesn't apply. In
the Church of Sta. Maria
da Pena
I saw a nice car, all covered with pieces of sardine
containers! It is a piece of a Recicling Exhibition that took
place in the castle. Don't be affraid! I won't ask you how
many container covers are covering the car... The car will
not be there for more than two weeks. Lucky You! I just want
You to watch the entrance of the church and see, at left, 3
leters at about 3 meters high and e-mail me telling which
leters are.
Don't
forget: "Cache in, trash out"