Silveiras: Menhir, Frescoes and Route P22

Silveiras offers several reasons to visit: prehistoric monuments, religious art and history, local crafts, and a route for hiking and mountain biking. When planning your trip, you can easily distinguish between these interests: early history and culture sit alongside a specific outdoor route and an annual tradition with a set visitor period.

Menhir, Cromlech and the History of Silveiras

The Menir na Courela da Casa Nova, also called Menir da Courela do Guita, was fashioned from a large granite block between the middle of the 4th and the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. It is classified as a National Monument and lies 100 metres from the EN 4. The two names refer to the same monument, not to two different menhirs.

The Cromeleque dos Cuncos was also built between the middle of the 4th and the middle of the 3rd millennium BC; it was discovered in 1984. Both archaeological sites therefore date to a similar period. The year of its discovery provides an additional point of reference for the cromlech.

The reported origins of the name Silveiras offer another perspective on the town’s history: the settlement is said to have developed from the “Vendas” that spread along the former Estrada Real. This road is now called the N4. This cautiously worded account of the settlement’s origins adds a more recent historical link to the road to the much earlier archaeological periods.

Religious Art and Local Traditions

The ruins of the Church of Santo Aleixo date from the first third of the 16th century. Remains of a 16th-century fresco altarpiece are preserved in the church: its three panels depict scenes from the life of the patron saint. This site brings together architectural history and a surviving pictorial programme. The ruins are dated more precisely than the altarpiece, for which only the century is given.

The Presépio das Silveiras is an annual local tradition organised jointly by the parish’s associations. It is open to visitors each year from 1 December to 6 January. If you would like to include this tradition in your travel plans, you can time your stay to coincide with this period.

Crafts in Silveiras include items made from wood, cork and woven materials, as well as embroidery. Another tourist attraction is a zoological park for ostriches. Together, these offer a glimpse of different sides of the destination: traditional crafts, a seasonal community tradition and a zoological park.

Route P22: Hiking and Mountain Biking

Route P22 – Silveiras is 10.6 kilometres long and designated for hiking and mountain biking. It provides a specific outdoor activity to complement the historical and cultural attractions when planning your trip. The route is not signposted. Check local conditions before setting out and plan your navigation accordingly. The distance and the two intended activities give you a clear basis for deciding whether this route suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Vendas Novas, Landeira.

Go to the main travel overview: Vendas Novas.