Leiria and the surrounding regions has been the hub of civilization of the area. The earliest settlements found in the region have been from the Turduli, an indigenous people of the Iberia. When the Romans conquered the region, they established a town named Collipo until they were driven out be the Moorish invasion. There is not much record of the occupation of the Visigoths but at the time of the Moors, Leiria was already a village with a garrison. The garrison of Leiria was liberated by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques in 1135. This was the period called in Portuguese history as the Reconquista. In 1137 the Moors regained the village until 1140. In 1142, the town was fully liberated from Moorish occupation and in order to foster economic activity, the feudal system of foral was instituted in Leiria. In 1254, Dom Afonso III instituted the precursor of Portuguese parliament in history as he invited to Leiria members of the aristocracy and intelligentsia. The town reached its peak as King Dom Dinis improved the castle built in the area to become the royal residence for himself and Isabel de Aragon, his Queen. The castle stands as the crowning glory of Leiria. (more…)