Explore Coimbra and the Beira Litoral
Halfway between Aveiro and Porto lies SANTA MARIA DA FEIRA (or, more simply, Feira), sporting one of the most spectacular castles in Portugal. Feira itself is filling up fast with commuters, but there’s a small historic kernel at the bottom of town, with shady woods and picnic grounds laid out up the hill as far as the resplendent Castelo da Feira. The castle is a magnificent example of defensive engineering, with high walls, squat towers, battlements and witches’ hat turrets. Its various sections are linked by tunnels and hidden entrances in such a way that no direct access can ever have been offered to intruders – arrow slits, keyhole windows and an underground cistern emphasize the point that this castle would not fall easily.
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