The region around Leiria has long been inhabited although its early history is obscure. The first evident inhabitants were the Turduli Oppidani,Strabo, Geographikon, III, 3, 5. a Celtici tribe (akin to the Lusitanians), who established a settlement near (around 7 km) present-day Leiria. This settlement was later occupied by the Romans, who expanded it under the original Celtiberian name Collippo. The stones of the ancient Roman town were used in the Middle Ages to build much of Leiria.
