the European capital for the moulding industry, with 250 companies operating there, rightfully giving the town the nickname 'The Crystal City'. The city is served by two highways (A8 connecting to Lisbon and A17 connecting to Aveiro and Oporto) and a train line. It is a 1-hour 15-minute drive away from Lisbon, 10 minutes away from Leiria and 45 minutes from Coimbra. Tourism The pine forest is an aromatic forest and has waymarked paths for walkers. It has several campsites within it. There is a cycle route from Marinha Grande to São Pedro de Moel on the coast. There are tours around the glass works and to the glass museums. Sports Atlético Clube Marinhense is the local team, it plays at Estádio Municipal da Marinha Grande, a venue shared in past with former Primeira Liga club, U.D. Leiria. Notable people William Stephens (1731–1803) an English entrepreneur and glass manufacturer, he reopened and operated the royal glassworks factory in Marinha Grande; it had fallen into disuse. José Gregório (1908-1961) a glassmaker in Marinha Grande, a trade unionist and Portuguese Communist Party activist. António Garrido (1932–2014) a Portuguese football referee. Orlando Gonçalves (born 1938) a Portuguese wrestler, competed at the 1960 and 1972 Summer Olympics Margarida Balseiro Lopes (born 1989) a Portuguese politician, a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal Hugo Gaspar (born 1982 in Vieira de Leiria) a Portuguese volleyball player References External links Municipality official website Photos from Marinha Grande Cities in Portugal Populated places in Leiria District Municipalities of Leiria District Marinha Grande