São Pedro de Moel

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São Pedro de Moel is a beach community near to the city of Marinha Grande in the district of Leiria, Portugal.

It is located within the Pinhal de Leiria, south of the mouth of Ribeira de Moel. It is a seside village,west of the cities of Marinha Grande and Leiria. . In 1463 Don Afonso V gave São Pedro de Moel to the Count of Vila Real. The family had a palace in Leiria and several houses in San Pedro de Moel. They lived on this beach until 1641, when they were executed by the last Marquis de Vila Real and Duque de Caminha. The widowed Duquesa de Caminha, mourned the death of her husband on a huge rock overlooking the beach that is named after him - Penedo da Saudade, at the top of which is a lighthouse with the same name. The legend of the Duquesa de Caminha also claims that the rock the still resonates with her lament.

Overlooking the beach is the home of the poet Afonso Lopes Vieira which includes a chapel overlooking the ocean and the sun-clock courtyard. The house was donated by the poet to the City of Marinha Grande for use as a resort for local children, a museum and gallery

In the eighteenth century San Pedro de Moel was the location of a thriving resin factory, using the resources of the abundant local pine forests.

The entire beach was originally part of the Portuguese 'National Matas', but in 1926 was reorganised into to the Marinha Grande Municipality. It is denoted by a central statue of King Dinis and Queen Santa Isabel.

Points of interest include the Old Beach, Penedo da Saudade, the lighthouse and Ribeira de Moel, all slightly to the north. In the pine forests there are several parks, and it includes the Round of Seven, which is a beautiful journey of approximately 7Km, via sea, beach, pine forest, parks, fountains and streams.

[edit] References

Article translated from Portuguese Wikipedia.

Coordinates: 39°45′19.00″N, 9°1′56.21″W

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