MIRA »»» COIMBRA, Distrito; »»» MIRA, Concelho

GPS 40.427368, -8.738053

Mira is a municipality in the District of Coimbra, located in the Coimbra Region sub-region (NUT III). It covers an area of 124.03 km² and has a population of 12,114 (as of 2021), and is subdivided into four parishes.

History

During the period of Arab rule, Mira was already a town with a town square. During the Muslim period, this region was reportedly the scene of wars between Christians and Arabs when they dominated this coastal area.

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.

Mira is the center of a region called Gândara. A land formed over centuries, man developed the fertility of the land through effort and sweat, making the best use of the fertilizers provided by the estuary (Mira is an integral part of the Ria de Aveiro) and the lagoons.

Despite all this history, Mira has always been a place of sea and lagoons. It was in the 19th century that the coastline was occupied, and granaries, skillfully placed on pine stilts, began to dot the landscape. During high tides, the sand and seawater circulated between the piles, and the fishermen, who always knew how to read the weather, waited for better days to return to their work.

Considered the heart of Gândara, Mira is located on the central coastal region of Portugal, between Figueira da Foz and Aveiro. A vast area of this municipality is covered by a lush maritime pine forest, where once a large, shifting dune system, almost devoid of vegetation, invaded lagoons and arable land.

Along the coastline, we find wide sandy beaches, excellent for swimming and water sports. Among these beaches, we highlight Praia de Mira, formerly known as Palheiros de Mira, still with ancient wooden stilt buildings located along the seashore, such as the Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception and, later built, the Ethnographic Museum. This beach stands out for its environmental quality, having been the only one in Portugal to have been awarded the European Blue Flag for 25 consecutive years.

In the municipality's ditches and lagoons, it's possible to spend some quality leisure time canoeing or rowing in the typical lagoon boats. In the ditches, south of Mira Lagoon, you can see several working watermills, a living demonstration of a sociocultural heritage of great importance.

These three habitats (forest area, wetlands, and coastal dune area) are privileged locations for observing nature and the landscape, as well as for environmental education activities. The approximately 20,000-meter cycling and walking trail runs through the villages of Barra de Mira, Praia de Mira, Lagoa, Casal de São Tomé, and Ermida.

On foot or by bike, discover Barrinha, in Mira Beach, and further on, in Lagoa, the watermills.


(PT)

GPS 40.427368, -8.738053

Mira é um concelho do Distrito de Coimbra, localizado na sub-região Região de Coimbra (NUT III). Abrange uma área de 124,03 km² e tem uma população de 12.114 habitantes (em 2021), estando subdividido em quatro freguesias. O concelho é limitado a norte pela cidade de Vagos, a leste e a sul por Cantanhede e a oeste pelo Oceano Atlântico.

História
Durante o período muçulmano, esta região foi alegadamente palco de guerras entre cristãos e árabes, quando estes dominaram esta zona costeira.

Geografia
Administrativamente, o concelho está dividido em 4 freguesias:

Mira
Praia de Mira
Seixo
Carapelhos

Economia
Centro de pesca artesanal e aquacultura, Mira conta ainda com atividades económicas baseadas na agricultura, silvicultura e turismo.

Em 2007, a empresa de pesca galega Pescanova, com sede em Redondela, Espanha, anunciou a intenção de construir várias unidades de aquacultura de robalo em Mira.

Mira sempre foi um lugar de mar e lagoas. Foi no século XIX que o litoral foi ocupado e os espigueiros, habilmente colocados sobre estacas de pinheiro, começaram a pontuar a paisagem.

Ao longo da costa, encontramos extensos areais, excelentes para banhos e desportos náuticos.
Nos fossos e lagoas do concelho, é possível passar bons momentos de lazer a praticar canoagem ou a remar nos barcos típicos da lagoa. Nos fossos, a sul da Lagoa de Mira, podem observar-se vários moinhos de água em funcionamento, testemunho vivo de um património sociocultural de grande importância.

Estes três habitats (zona florestal, zonas húmidas e zona dunar costeira) são locais privilegiados para a observação da natureza e da paisagem, bem como para actividades de educação ambiental. O percurso pedestre e ciclável, com cerca de 20 000 metros, percorre as aldeias de Barra de Mira, Praia de Mira, Lagoa, Casal de São Tomé e Ermida.

A pé ou de bicicleta, descubra a Barrinha, na Praia de Mira, e mais adiante, em Lagoa, os moinhos de água.