1. The onshore region to the north of the Mondego River, an area of transition between the Visigoth North and the Islamic South had, already during the first dynasty, a crucial role in the consolidation of the national territory and in the settling of the people.

So that the Christian re-conquest could advance towards the South, it was first of all necessary to strengthen the fortifications built on strategic sites and, thereafter, to proceed with settling people and with the agricultural development of the land since conquered, a task that was made possible with the aid of several recently installed religious orders which had already been set up in Europe, especially the Cistercian Order.

2. A little later, the University would be installed in Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe and one of the centres of knowledge with greater prestige in the history of continental Europe.

3. From all this historic past, fundamental for the understanding of the origins and the consolidation of the Portuguese State, various religious or military monuments, besides the University, are still in existence, some of which duly preserved, others requiring a full, systematic and continued refurbishment.

4. A few of these monuments have been the source of several privately funded associations which have endeavoured their preservation, and as such should be encouraged and supported. Examples of this are the Surveillance Committee of the Castle of Santa Maria da Feira and the Santa Mafalda Brotherhood, in Arouca.

5. Several universities and research centres have promoted fully developed and specialized work covering heritage, particularly of this region, with most of those works duly catalogued and made public in academic discussions and scientific papers. Some of these institutes, such as LNEC (National Civil Engineering Laboratory), have provided high level technical services to the community.

6. Issues linked to heritage are, further to this, part of the syllabus in an ever greater number of higher education establishments which provide graduate, master and doctorate degrees in this area, which correspond to an equally growing demand from students.

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