Marklaro's World Postcards

Postcard from Leiria, Portugal - Castle - Church "Nossa Senhora da Pena".
Leiria is a lovely city situated in the centre of Portugal, by the river Lis and the river Lena.
The Leiria’s Castle is one of the most important monuments in this city.
The construction of the Leiria Castle was ordered by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, to establish a defensive line against the Moors, yet the wars with Galicia gave some advantage to the Moors and, for two times, they were able to take over Leiria.
In the 15th century, King John I built a royal palace within the walls of the castle of Leiria. This palace, with elegant gothic galleries that offered wonderful views of the town and surrounding landscape, was totally in ruins but was partially rebuilt in the 20th century. John I also sponsored the rebuilding in late gothic style of the old Church of Our Lady of the Rock (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Pena), located inside the castle.