Mira (), officially the Town of Mira (), is a municipality in the central Portuguese district of Coimbra. A coastal municipality, known for its beaches, forests, and agriculture, the population was 12 465 inhabitants in an area of approximately .

History

thumb|235px|left|A drawing showing the economic life of Praia de Mira

thumb|235px|left|Azulejo showing a maiden collecting water from the fountain of São Bento

thumb|left|Beach of Mira

In 1442, the regent Peter, Duke of Coimbra, conceded administrative autonomy to the town of Mira.

Concession of its first Foral (charter) occurred almost a century later, during the reign of King D. Manuel I.

  • Mira
  • Praia de Mira
  • Seixo
  • Carapelhos

Economy

A centre for artisanal fishery, and aquaculture, Mira's economic activities also rely on agriculture, forestry and tourism.

In 2007, the Galician fishing company Pescanova, headquartered in Redondela, Spain, announced its intention to build several sea bass aquaculture plants in Mira. Pescanova invested about 350 million Euros in the Portuguese aquaculture plant, which was backed by the Portuguese government with about 45 million Euros in incentives. The plants incorporate wind farms to alleviate the high energy costs, as well as a fish feeding plant. The plants were projected to reach a production rate of between 30,000 and 100,000 tonnes per year.

Architecture

Civic

  • Building of the Post, Telegraph and Telephones (CTT) of Mira ()
  • Fountain of São Bento ()
  • Municipal Council and Judicial Courthouse of Mira ()
  • Pillory of Mira ()
  • Subregional Hospital of Mira ()

Religious

  • Chapel of Leitões ()
  • Chapel of Nossa do Carmo ()
  • Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição ()
  • Chapel of Santa Marinha ()
  • Chapel of São Sebastião ()
  • Church of São Tomé ()
  • Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo ()
  • Hermitage of Santa Maria de Mira ()

Notable people

  • Isabel Capeloa Gil (born 1965 in Mira) the 6th Rector of the Catholic University of Portugal

References

  • Photos from Mira