Central region

South of Porto and north of Lisbon is a region of Portugal known as central Portugal. It runs east to west. Conímbriga, one of the largest Roman settlements ever discovered in Portugal, is located close to Coimbra, one of the biggest cities in the area. Aveiro, Caldas de Rainha, Leiria, and Castelo Branco are additional cities and towns in the Central Region.

An abundance of streams, rivers, forests, and farmland can be found throughout the Central Region’s varied landscape. Mountainous terrain with numerous fortified castles and stone fortresses dominates the eastern border with Spain. The Serra da Estrela Natural Park contains the Torre, which is the highest point on Portuguese territory, and other mountainous terrain that is located inland. Rivers wind through the verdant, rocky

landscape, and sandy beaches can be found in the outer coastal plain. Nazaré is the most famous of these beaches and is a favorite among surfers because it has large winter waves.

The climate is similar to that of the northern region, with hot summers and cold winters in the east and warm summers and mild winters in the west. A calming Atlantic breeze keeps summer temperatures a little lower than in the region’s eastern half.