Beira

Historical provinces: Beira Alta, Beira Baixa and Beira Litoral

Districts: Viseu, Guarda, Catelo Branco, Aveiro and Coimbra

Area: 27,398sq.km/10,578sq.mi

The region of Beira in northern Portugal is a great tract of land between the Douro in the north and the Tagus in the south, consisting mostly of rugged mountain country and bleak plateaux. In this frontier territory, long disputed between Christians and Moors, the towns were always stoutly fortified. Beira is made up of three old provinces of very different characters.