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LEIRIA |
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| With regular bus services to the three big sites of northern
Estremadura - Alcobaça, Batalha and Fátima - LEIRIA makes a handy centre
for excursions. The chief sight in Leiria itself is the Castle (Mon-Fri
9am-5.30/6.30pm, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm; ¬0.90), incorporating an elegant
royal palace with a magnificent balcony high above the River Lis. At the
heart of the old town, Praça Rodrigues Lobo is surrounded by beautiful
buildings and arcades. The tourist office (daily: summer 10am-1pm &
3-7pm; winter 2-6pm; tel 244 814 748) and bus station are on opposite
sides of a park overlooking the river in the modern city centre. The
train station is about 4km out of town, with a connecting bus service.
For accommodation , check the pensions such as Pensão Berlinga , Rua
Miguel Bombarda 3D (tel 244 823 846; £10-15/$16-24/¬18-27), and
restaurants (some offering rooms) around Praça Rodrigues Lobo and on
narrow side streets such as Rua Mestre Aviz and Rua Miguel Bombarda.
There's also a fancy hostel with a good atmosphere at Largo Cândido dos
Reis 9 (tel 244 831 868; doubles £10-15/$16-24/¬18-27, dorms
£5-10/$8-16/¬9-18). As for restaurants , try the seafood at Jardim , by
the tourist office, or real Portuguese cuisine - slightly more expensive,
but worth it for the large portions - at Montecarlo , Rua Dr Correia
Mateus 32-34. |
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