Page 191 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

Distinctive candy-striped beach houses in Costa Nova

THE BEIRAS

The three provinces of the Beiras may not be a
tourist hub, but their past commercial and defen­
sive sig nifi cance has left its mark. In Beira Litoral,
the prows of Aveiro’s sea weed boats are a legacy
of trade with the Phoenicians, while Viseu – Beira
Alta’s capital – grew up at a crossroads of Roman
trading routes. The Romans were never as firmly
entrenched here as further south, but the ruins
of Conímbriga speak elo quently of the elegant
city that once stood here. It gave its name to
Coimbra, which temporarily became the country’s
capital from 1139 until 1260. Conscious of Spain’s
proximity and claim on their land, successive
Portuguese kings constructed a great defensive
chain of forts along the vulnerable eastern border.
These fortresses continued to prove vital in
the fight for inde pendence from Spain in the
17th century, and again against Napoleon’s forces.
Even Buçaco, revered for the peace and sanctity
of its forest, is known as the site of Wellington’s
successful stand against Masséna.
Despite the unforgiving terrain, the Beiras
are famed as the source of some gastronomic
treats: Portugal’s favourite cheese is made in
the Serra da Estrela, while the region’s red
wines are among Portugal’s best known.
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