Oliveira do Hospital

Oliveira do Hospital (pron. IPA2|oli'vɐjɾɐ du ɔʃpi'taɫ) is a city and municipality in the district of Coimbra, Portugal. The municipality has a population of about 22,000 inhabitants. The city itself has a population of 5,222. [ [http://62.48.187.117/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004] Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)]

Geography

It is located at the northern edge of the district of Coimbra in the foothills of the "Serra da Estrela" (The Star Mountains). The Alva and Alvoco river valleys at the foot of the mountains have a full bodied charm that draw one to outdoors activities like fishing, tennis and canoeing.

History and landmarks

Home to ancient peoples, Oliveira do Hospital has Roman settlements, Visigothic relics, noble Gothic mansions as well as ancient villages built of slate. One can find Neolithic and Bronze Age burial grounds and genuine religious and rural relics such as the large granite outcroppings used as threshing floors, the Holy Cross Church and the Ferreiros Chapel, a Roman Gothic style temple dating to the 13th century and the Church of Sao Gião, known as the cathedral of its region due to its richly carved and painted 18th century Baroque interior.

Economy

Its fertile geographic position favors agriculture, which is the dominant activity of the region with wine and cheeses being its most important products. Regarding its business sector, confections, machine tools, packaging and toys are the most important. Oliveira do Hospital is known not only for its natural beauty but its cuisine, arts and crafts.

Transportation

Although Oliveira do Hospital is well within the interior of the country, transportation services are quite adequate and have been increasing as befits a growing region. There are a number of roads to the coast and other cities, the best known being the scenic Estrada da Beira.

Parishes of Oliveira do Hospital

* Aldeia das Dez
* Alvoco das Várzeas
* Avô
* Bobadela
* Ervedal
* Lagares
* Lagos da Beira
* Lajeosa
* Lourosa
* Meruge
* Nogueira do Cravo
* Oliveira do Hospital
* Penalva de Alva
* Santa Ovaia
* São Gião
* São Paio de Gramaços
* São Sebastião da Feira
* Seixo da Beira
* Travanca de Lagos
* Vila Franca da Beira
* Vila Pouca da Beira

References

ee also

*Serra da Estrela
*Beira
*Coimbra (district)

External links

* [http://www.cm-oliveiradohospital.pt Municipality of Oliveira do Hospital]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1423147/ Photos from Oliveira do Hospital]