Central Region, Portugal

The Central Region (

Inhabited by the Lusitanians, an Indo-European people living in the western Iberian Peninsula, the Romans settled in the region and colonized it as a part of the Roman Province of Lusitânia. The Roman town of Conímbriga, near Coimbra, is among the most noted and well-preserved remains of that period. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Visigoths were the main rulers and colonizers from the 5th to the 8th century.

In the 8th century, the Muslim conquest of Iberia turned the region a Muslim-dominated territory.

In the earliest years of the Christian

Princes of Beira.

Along the region's mountainous border with Spain are a series of fortresses and castles that once protected the country from its many invaders. Over the centuries, Moors, Christians, Spaniards and Portuguese have all tried to take these villages, but their higher elevations usually gave them a distinct advantage. On that border, the more than one dozen fortified frontier villages beckon today's visitors to come explore a 900-year history — full of the heroism, epic battles and romance upon which Portugal struggled to become a nation. Today, Portugal boasts the longest-standing border in all of Europe.

In these rural border villages, ancient rituals and religious festivals remain popular. Visitors can sample them and partake in the traditional foods of that area, such as cheese, sausages, and mountain honey.

In the fortress town of Almeida, a walk through the narrow cobbled streets can lead a visitor to the ruins of a once mighty 12-pointed fortress. One of Portugal's many Pousadas— an historic property turned into an inn— is located in Almeida.

In the town of Castelo Rodrigo, a memorial stone marks the place of a fierce battle in 1664, and visitors can view the remains of the castle and its keep, as well as a palace. The town also has a small Gothic church. Near Castelo Mendo stands an intricate stone bridge built by the Romans.

Frontier castles

Most of the castles in this border region of Central are classified as

The Centro is a region of diversified landscapes. The interior is mountainous with some plateaus, dominated by the

The largest urban centres include

• Beira Baixa
• Beiras e Serra da Estrela
• Médio Tejo
• Oeste
• Região de Aveiro
• Região de Coimbra
• Região de Leiria
• Viseu Dão Lafões

Economy

The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the region was 38.2 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 18.8% of Portugal's economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 20,100 euros or 67% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 68% of the EU average.^[5]

One of Portugal's richest regions by the abundance of natural streams of water, forests, arable land and its long coast line, the Central region has some of the most economically dynamic and densely populated municipalities of the country. Excellent transportation links with the

• Provinces of Portugal
• Regions of Portugal

References

External links

• Center of Portugal (Official Center Tourism site)
• Fatima Tourism (Official Fatima Tourism site)