Discover Beco: Churches, Rock-Cut Tomb and Festivals

Beco brings together sacred architectural history, archaeological heritage and seasonal festivals. For planning your visit, churches, the Visigothic tomb site of Fonte Seca I and routes offer different points of interest, along with recurring event dates. You can plan your stay around cultural sites, a route or the festival calendar.

Churches and archaeological heritage

The Igreja Matriz de Beco was founded in the early 16th century. The Igreja de Santo Aleixo adds a precisely described layout to this early historical reference: it has three naves divided into five bays. Naves are the main longitudinal spaces of a church; bays divide the church interior into sections. The founding period and the layout of the church interior therefore offer two distinct points of reference for Beco’s churches.

Among Beco’s archaeological sites is Fonte Seca I (CNS 24885), a Visigothic tomb site. The complete tomb, carved into the rock, is trapezoidal, has a head end and is aligned from east to west. The description combines its historical classification with specific features of the tomb: its shape, head end and alignment.

The Capela de Nossa Senhora da Orada is also associated with a historical tradition. As early as 1712, it was believed that the chapel was older than the church of Beco. The year dates the tradition, not the construction of the chapel.

Routes and landscape

The PR6 Zêzere Sagrado places the Igreja de Santo Aleixo in a regional context: it counts the church among three sites of public interest and links this cultural heritage with the natural heritage of Ferreira do Zêzere. The stretch from Beco towards Dornes is described as having a significant change in elevation and views over the Zêzere. This allows you to distinguish the route’s cultural significance from the landscape features of this particular stretch.

The municipality reports a temporary suspension of the PR6. Check the current status of the hiking route before setting out.

The PTT1 off-road route also passes through Beco. In Ferreira do Zêzere, it includes other places, such as Aderneira, Lago Azul, S. Pedro de Castro, Pombeira, Rio Fundeiro, 3 Ilhas and Dornes. PR6 is listed as a hiking route and has a described stretch with a change in elevation and views of the Zêzere; PTT1 is identified as an off-road route and passes through several places. When weighing up the route type, these differences can help you make your choice. Check local route conditions for PTT1 before setting out as well.

Festivals throughout the year

The events calendar runs from late spring through July. Beco’s annual Cherry Fair takes place on the last Sunday in May or the first Sunday in June. In July, the celebration in honour of Nossa Senhora da Orada falls on the second weekend, while the Feira Anual de Santo Aleixo takes place on the third Sunday in July. The two July events are scheduled differently: one on a weekend, the other on a specific Sunday.

If you are planning your stay around a festival, check the date for the year in question before making your travel plans. The municipality’s seasonal information about the two July events may be updated each year.

Discover more destinations: Amiais de Cima, Bemposta, Martinchel, Cercal Do Alentejo, Soudos, Santo Estêvão, Benavente, Azoia De Baixo

For the broader travel overview: Santarem.