{Geobox|Region
| name = Centro
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Centro
| category = Region
| image = Foto3 SGiao Small.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Symbolic of the Central Region, the
Serra da Estrela the highest peak/mountain range in continental Portugal
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Centro
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Centro
| category = Region
| image = Foto3 SGiao Small.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Symbolic of the Central Region, the
Serra da Estrela the highest peak/mountain range in continental Portugal
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Centro
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Centro
| category = Region
| image = Foto3 SGiao Small.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Symbolic of the Central Region, the
Serra da Estrela the highest peak/mountain range in continental Portugal
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Centro
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Centro
| category = Region
| image = Foto3 SGiao Small.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Symbolic of the Central Region, the
Serra da Estrela the highest peak/mountain range in continental Portugal
{{Geobox|Region
| name = Centro
| native_name =
| other_name = Região Centro
| category = Region
| image = Foto3 SGiao Small.jpg
| image_size = 235
| image_caption = Symbolic of the Central Region, the
Serra da Estrela the highest peak/mountain range in continental Portugal
| etymology =
centro,
PortuguesePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
for
centre
| country =
Portugal
| state =
| region = Centro
| district =
| capital = Coimbra
| capital_lat_d = 40
| capital_lat_m = 12
| capital_lat_s = 28
| capital_lat_NS = N
| capital_long_d = 8
| capital_long_m = 25
| capital_long_s = 34
| capital_long_EW = W
| capital_elevation = 119
| part_type =
| part_count =
| part =
| part1 =
| city =
| city1 =
| municipality_type =
| municipality_count =
| area = 28462
| highest =
| highest location =
| highest_lat_d =
| highest_lat_m =
| highest_lat_s =
| highest_lat_NS =
| highest_long_d =
| highest_long_m =
| highest_long_s =
| highest_long_EW =
| highest_elevation =
| lowest = Sea level
| lowest_location = Atlantic Ocean
| lowest_lat_d =
| lowest_lat_m =
| lowest_lat_s =
| lowest_lat_NS =
| lowest_long_d =
| lowest_long_m =
| lowest_long_s =
| lowest_long_EW =
| lowest_elevation =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population = 2327026
| population_density = 81.76
| established_type =
| established =
| leader =
| timezone =
WETWestern European Time , defined legally as Greenwich Mean Time in the United Kingdom, is the time zone covering parts of western and northwestern Europe, and includes the following countries and regions:...
| utc_offset = +0
| timezone_DST = WEST
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| code_type = ISO
| code = PT
| code1_type = NUTS
| code1 = PT16
| free_type = GDP per capita (PPS)
| free = € 15,300 (2006)
| free1_type =
| free1 =
| map = LocalRegiaoCentro.svg
| map_size = 235
| map_caption = Location of the Centro Region in context of the national borders
| map_locator =
| map_locator_x =
| map_locator_y =
| website = https://www.ccdrc.pt/
| footnotes = Statistics from
INEThe Instituto Nacional de Estatística is the National Statistical Institute of Portugal. Its headquarters are located in Lisbon. It also calls itself Statistics Portugal in English. The first census in Portugal was carried out in 1864...
(2005); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)
}}
The
Centro Region ({{lang-pt|Região Centro}}, ʁɨʒiˈɐ̃w ˈsẽtɾu) is a region in central
PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and its capital is
CoimbraCoimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
. Other local cities with major administrative status inside this region are Aveiro,
ViseuViseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
,
LeiriaLeiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
,
Castelo BrancoThe city of Castelo Branco is made up of one parish with a population of 30,649.It is located in Castelo Branco Municipality in Castelo Branco District.-History and landmarks:...
and
GuardaGuarda is a city in Guarda Municipality, Portugal. The city has a population of 32 111Guarda was founded in 1199 by the second king of Portugal, Sancho I....
. It is one of seven Regions of Portugal (
NUTSThe Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics is a geocode standard for referencing the subdivisions of countries for statistical purposes...
II subdivisions). This is one of the regions of Europe, considered by the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
for statistical and geographical purposes. Its population in 2011 totalled 2,327,026 inhabitants, and its area is 28,462 km² (density of 82 inhabitants per square kilometre).
History
Inhabited by the
LusitaniansThe Lusitanians were an Indo-European people living in the Western Iberian Peninsula long before it became the Roman province of Lusitania . They spoke the Lusitanian language which might have been Celtic. The modern Portuguese people see the Lusitanians as their ancestors...
, an
Indo-European peopleThe Proto-Indo-Europeans were the speakers of the Proto-Indo-European language , a reconstructed prehistoric language of Eurasia.Knowledge of them comes chiefly from the linguistic reconstruction, along with material evidence from archaeology and archaeogenetics...
living in the western
Iberian PeninsulaThe Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, the
RomansThe Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
settled in the region and colonized it as a part of the Roman Province of
LusitâniaLusitania or Hispania Lusitania was an ancient Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river and part of modern Spain . It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people...
. The Roman town of
ConímbrigaConímbriga is one of the largest Roman settlements in Portugal, and is classified as a National Monument. Conímbriga lies 16 km from Coimbra and less than 2 km from Condeixa-a-Nova. The site also has a museum that displays objects found by archaeologists during their excavations,...
, near
CoimbraCoimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, is among the most noted and well preserved remains of that period. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Visigoths were the main rulers and colonizers from the 5th to the 8th century.
In the 8th century the Muslim conquest of Iberia turned the region a Muslim-dominated territory.
In the earliest years of the Christian
ReconquistaThe Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
, just before the arise of a Portuguese national identity, the region was a battleplace for
MuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
MoorsThe description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
and Christian
crusaderThe Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
s. Once the Moors were expelled, the Christian kings and landlords made the region a county, the
County of CoimbraThe County of Coimbra was a political entity instituted as a subsidiary county for the prince Ardavast or Sisebuto son of King Wittiza until the fall of Visigothic Hispania by Abderraman III ruler of Al-Andalus. The first counts established a long and great dynasty which were several families and...
. It was integrated into the newly-created
Condado Portucalensis, the early precursor of the modern nation of Portugal.
The modern region matches roughly the boundaries of the older historical
Beira ProvinceBeira was one of the six traditional provinces or "comarcas" of Portugal.-Administrative history:The medieval province of Beira was divided in 1832 into* Beira Alta Province* Beira Baixa ProvinceBeira Litoral...
plus the
Oeste in former
EstremaduraEstremadura Province is one of the six historical provinces of Portugal....
and
Médio TejoMédio Tejo is a NUTS3 subregion of the Centro Region, in Portugal. Médio Tejo is also one of Portugal urban communities . The capital city and its most important city is Tomar.-Municipalities:...
in former
RibatejoThe Ribatejo is the most central of the traditional provinces of Portugal, with no coastline or border with Spain. The region is crossed by the Tagus River...
.
BeiraBeira was one of the six traditional provinces or "comarcas" of Portugal.-Administrative history:The medieval province of Beira was divided in 1832 into* Beira Alta Province* Beira Baixa ProvinceBeira Litoral...
was an historical province of Portugal and its name was used by the heirs to the Portuguese throne during the monarchy regime, before 1910. The princes were known as the Princes of Beira.
Historic villages
Along this region’s mountainous border with Spain are a series of fortresses and castles that once protected the country from its many invaders. Over the centuries, Moors and Christians, Spaniards and Portuguese have all tried to take these villages, but their higher elevations usually gave them a distinct advantage. Here, the more than one dozen fortified frontier villages beckon today’s visitors to come explore a 900-year history—full of the heroism, epic battles and romance upon which Portugal struggled to become a nation. Each village has a fascinating tale of its own to tell. All of their valiant efforts paid off. Today Portugal boasts the longest-standing border in all of Europe.
In these rural villages, ancient rituals and religious festivals remain popular. Visitors can sample them and partake in traditional foods such as cheese, sausages and mountain honey.
In the fortress town of Almeida, a walk through the narrow cobbled streets can lead a visitor to the ruins of a once mighty 12-pointed fortress here. One of Portugal’s many Pousadas—an historic property turned into an inn—is located in Almeida. In the town of Castelo Rodrigo, a memorial stone marks the place of a fierce battle in 1664, and visitors can view the remains of the castle, its tower and a palace here. The town has a small, Gothic church. Just near Castelo Mendo stands a beautiful bridge built by the Romans.
Frontier castles
{{Main|Castles in Portugal}}
Most of the castles in this border region of Centro are classified as national monuments. These stone fortresses date back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Castles or parts of castles still stand at Alfaiates, Sortelha, Vilar Maior, Sabugal, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Bom, Castelo Rodrigo, Penamacor, Monsanto, Pinhel and Almeida. A 20-castle route has been delineated by the Portugal government (see www.visitportugal.com). Sortelha, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Rodrigo and the fortified town of Almeida are considered gems among them all.
Geography
The
Centro is a region of diversified landscapes. The interior is mountainous with some plateaus, dominated by the
Serra da Estrela mountain. The region is plentiful of pine and
chestnutChestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
trees forests. The green, rugged landscape of this region is crisscrossed by rivers. Several river valleys at the foot of the mountains have a full bodied charm that draw one to outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, tennis and canoeing. In the Winter season, skiing in Serra da Estrela is a popular activity, but in some places, like near the town of
SeiaSeia Municipality is located in Guarda District in Portugal. It has a total area of 435.7 km² and a total population of 27,574 inhabitants. Its urban population is about 7,000...
skiing before the Winter season is possible due to artificial snow infrastructures. The coastal plain has several beaches, like the ones of
MiraMira is a town in Mira Municipality in the district of Coimbra, Portugal. It is a coastal municipality known for its beaches, forests, and agriculture.-Economy:...
,
Figueira da FozFigueira da Foz , also known as Figueira for short, is a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego River, 40 km west of Coimbra, and sheltered by hills ....
,
ÍlhavoÍlhavo Municipality is located in Aveiro District, in Baixo Vouga Subregion, by the Ria de Aveiro and the Atlantic Ocean, with an area of and a population of 37,209, distributed by four parishes...
,
NazaréNazaré is a town in Nazaré Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 82,4 km² and a total population of 14,904 inhabitants. It is in subregion Oeste and Leiria district....
, Peniche and
São Martinho do PortoSão Martinho do Porto is a civil parish in Alcobaça Municipality, in Portugal.It covers an area of 15.01 square kilometers and has a population of 2,644 . It was a town and county seat until 1855.-External links:*...
. Natural landmarks in this region are the
Serra da Estrela mountain range (the biggest and highest in mainland Portugal), with its
Serra da Estrela Natural ParkSerra da Estrela Natural Park is situated in the largest mountain range in Portugal - the Serra da Estrela, and is the source of the rivers Mondego, Zêzere , and Alva. The park is the largest natural conservation area in Portugal and occupies about 1,000 km². More than half of its area is located...
, the Mondego river (the longest river located exclusively in Portuguese territory), the
Aveiro LagoonThe Aveiro lagoon is a lagoon in Portugal. It is located on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, south the municipalitiy of Espinho and north of Mira . Its average area covers approximately 75 km². It is named after the city of Aveiro, which is the chief urban centre located nearby the lagoon...
(Ria de Aveiro) and the coastal beaches.
The largest urban centres include
CoimbraCoimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Aveiro,
ViseuViseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
,
LeiriaLeiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
,
CovilhãCovilhã is a city in Covilha Municipality in Centro region, Portugal. The city proper has 36,723 inhabitants, and the municipality has an area of 555.6 km² with a total population of 53,501, being composed of 31 parishes. It is located in the Cova da Beira subregion, in the district of...
,
Castelo BrancoThe city of Castelo Branco is made up of one parish with a population of 30,649.It is located in Castelo Branco Municipality in Castelo Branco District.-History and landmarks:...
,
Figueira da FozFigueira da Foz , also known as Figueira for short, is a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego River, 40 km west of Coimbra, and sheltered by hills ....
,
GuardaGuarda is a city in Guarda Municipality, Portugal. The city has a population of 32 111Guarda was founded in 1199 by the second king of Portugal, Sancho I....
,
PinhelPinhel is a municipality in Centro Region, Beira Interior Norte Subregion, Portugal with a total area of 484.5 km² and a total population of 10,436 inhabitants.The city of Pinhel has about 3.500 inhabitants....
,
MealhadaMealhada Municipality is located in Aveiro District in Portugal. It has a total area of 110.7 km² and a total population of 21,282 inhabitants, and 17,043 electors . The city of Mealhada itself has a population of 5.000....
,
PombalPombal is a town in Pombal Municipality, Portugal. The population of the city is about 16.000 inhabitants....
,
TomarTomar Municipality has a total area of 351.0 km² and a total population of 43,007 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 16 parishes, and is located in Santarém District...
,
AbrantesAbrantes is a municipality in Portugal, with a population of 41,560 inhabitants, located on the southern margin of the Tagus River.-History:...
,
Torres VedrasTorres Vedras is a city and a municipality in the district of Lisbon, Portugal, about 50 km north of Lisbon. It belongs to the Oeste subregion and the Centro region.The municipality covers an area of 405.89 km² distributed over 20 freguesias...
,
Torres NovasTorres Novas is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 270.0 km² and a total population of 37,155 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 17 parishes, and is located in the district of Santarém. The city of Torres Novas has about 15,000 inhabitants. This city has a castle...
, Peniche, Águeda,
Cantanhede and
Caldas da RainhaCaldas da Rainha is a city in western central Portugal. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality of the same name and is the seat of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste...
.
Subregions
The region is divided in twelve sub-regions:
- Baixo Mondego
Baixo Mondego is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion that comprises the lower part of the Mondego River. It is a subregion of the Centro Region and is centered on the historical city of Coimbra...
- Baixo Vouga
Baixo Vouga is a Portuguese subregion integrated in the Centro Region. It is centered around the city of Aveiro. Other major cities include Águeda, Ílhavo and Ovar. The subregion covers an area of 1,807 km² and has a population of 394,393 inhabitants for an overall density of 218 hab/km²...
- Beira Interior Norte
Beira Interior Norte is a Portuguese subregion in the Centro Region. It is also part of an urban community called Beiras. The capital and most important city is Guarda...
- Beira Interior Sul
Beira Interior Sul is a NUTS3 subregion of Portugal integrating the NUTS2 Centro Region. It is bordered to the east and south by Spain, to the north by the Cova da Beira and Beira Interior Norte subregions and to the west by the Pinhal Interior Sul subregion. It was created around the city of...
- Cova da Beira
- Dão-Lafões
Dão-Lafões is a Portuguese NUTS III sub-region in the Centro Region. It is located in central Portugal, and has an approximate area of 3,483 km² and 286,315 inhabitants. Its largest city is Viseu Dão-Lafões is a Portuguese NUTS III sub-region in the Centro Region. It is located in central...
- Pinhal Interior Norte
Pinhal Interior Norte is a Portuguese subregion, in Centro Region, Portugal. The principal and most populous town is Lousã .The only city is Oliveira do Hospital.-Municipalities:* Alvaiázere* Ansião* Arganil* Castanheira de Pêra* Figueiró dos Vinhos...
- Pinhal Interior Sul
Pinhal Interior Sul is a Portuguese subregion, in Centro region, Portugal. Its main town is Sertã.-Municipalities:* Mação* Oleiros* Proença-a-Nova* Sertã* Vila de Rei...
- Pinhal Litoral
- Serra da Estrela
Economy
One of Portugal's richest regions by the abundance of natural streams of water, forests, arable land and the long coast line, the Centro region has some of the most economically dynamic and densely populated municipalities of the country. Excellent transportation links with the
Lisbon Metropolitan AreaLisbon Metropolitan Area is a territorial zone that includes 18 municipalities in Portugal. The smaller Grande Lisboa area is a subregion of the NUTS II Lisbon Region by its own right....
to the south and the Porto Metropolitan Area to the north, making ocean, rail and motorway access possible via containers, have all contributed to making manufacturing the principal industry, found mainly in the littoral strip, which is one of the largest industrialized areas in Portugal. Important products include motor vehicles,
foodFood is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, electrical appliances, machinery, chemicals, and
paperPaper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
.
Higher educationHigher education in Portugal is divided into two main subsystems: university and polytechnic education. It is provided in autonomous public universities, private universities, public or private university institutes, polytechnic institutions and higher education institutions of other types...
,
research and developmentScience and technology in Portugal is mainly conducted within a network of research and development units belonging to public universities and state-managed autonomous research institutions...
,
healthcareAccording to the 2010 Human Development Report, the average life expectancy in Portugal was 79.1 years.The Portuguese health system is characterized by three coexisting systems: the National Health Service , special social health insurance schemes for certain professions and voluntary private...
, information technologies,
biotechnologyBiotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
,
forestryForestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
,
agricultureAgriculture in Portugal is based on small to medium-sized family-owned dispersed units, however, the sector also includes larger scale intensive farming export-oriented agrobusinesses backed by companies...
,
fishingFishing is a major economic activity in Portugal. The country has a long tradition in the sector, and is among the countries in the world with the highest fish consumption per capita. Roman ruins of fish processing facilities were found across the Portuguese coast. Fish has been an important staple...
, and
tourismPortugal attracts many tourists each year. In 2006, the country was visited by 12.8 million tourists. Tourism is playing an increasingly important role in Portugal's economy contributing with about 5% of the Gross Domestic Product ....
, are major activities in he region. The wine regions of Dão DOC and Bairrada DOC are among the most reputed in Portugal. The major industry, commerce and services centres are located in and around
CoimbraCoimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Aveiro,
ViseuViseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
,
LeiriaLeiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
,
CovilhãCovilhã is a city in Covilha Municipality in Centro region, Portugal. The city proper has 36,723 inhabitants, and the municipality has an area of 555.6 km² with a total population of 53,501, being composed of 31 parishes. It is located in the Cova da Beira subregion, in the district of...
,
Castelo BrancoThe city of Castelo Branco is made up of one parish with a population of 30,649.It is located in Castelo Branco Municipality in Castelo Branco District.-History and landmarks:...
, and
Figueira da FozFigueira da Foz , also known as Figueira for short, is a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego River, 40 km west of Coimbra, and sheltered by hills ....
. Important light industry and agriculture is also based in and around
GuardaGuarda is a city in Guarda Municipality, Portugal. The city has a population of 32 111Guarda was founded in 1199 by the second king of Portugal, Sancho I....
,
Torres NovasTorres Novas is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 270.0 km² and a total population of 37,155 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 17 parishes, and is located in the district of Santarém. The city of Torres Novas has about 15,000 inhabitants. This city has a castle...
,
Torres VedrasTorres Vedras is a city and a municipality in the district of Lisbon, Portugal, about 50 km north of Lisbon. It belongs to the Oeste subregion and the Centro region.The municipality covers an area of 405.89 km² distributed over 20 freguesias...
and
Caldas da RainhaCaldas da Rainha is a city in western central Portugal. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality of the same name and is the seat of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste...
.
Education
The Centro region has three public universities: the
University of Coimbra, which is the oldest Portuguese university and the largest in the region; the
Aveiro UniversityUniversity of Aveiro is a Portuguese new generation public university, with its headquarters in Aveiro since its 1973 creation. It also provides polytechnic education in three distinct additional poles....
; and the
University of Beira InteriorThe University of Beira Interior is a public university located in the city of Covilhã, Portugal...
. There are also five state-run
polytechnicA polytechnic is a higher education educational institution in Portugal created in the 1980s. After 1998 they were upgraded to institutions which are allowed to confer licenciatura degrees. Before then, they only awarded short-cycle degrees which were known as bacharelatos and didn't provide...
al institutes: Castelo Branco Polytechnical Institute; Coimbra Polytechnical Institute; Guarda Polytechnical Institute; Leiria Polytechnical Institute; and Viseu Polytechnical Institute. In addition there are also a large number of public
nursing schoolA nursing school is a type of educational institution, or part thereof, providing education and training to become a fully qualified nurse. The nature of nursing education and nursing qualifications varies considerably across the world.-United Kingdom:...
s and
private higher educationPrivate schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
institutions across the region.
External links
{{Regions of Portugal}}