Sendim da Serra offers a range of reasons to visit: the Igreja Matriz with its Baroque art, a medieval necropolis near the Capela de Santa Eufémia, the viewing balcony at the Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Jerusalém, and two hiking trails. When choosing where to go, you can focus on architectural and art history, archaeological heritage, landscape views or hiking.

Church, Art and the Old Town

The old part of the Freguesia of Sendim da Serra is grouped around the Igreja Matriz. The church is Baroque, with a plain, austere façade and a central bell tower. It is also an architectural landmark of the older town centre. For visitors interested in the architectural history of a place, the connection between the church and the settlement’s layout is especially informative.

The Igreja Matriz houses six Baroque oil paintings on canvas. They are attributed to Bento Coelho da Silveira and dated to the period from 1617 to 1708. The exterior and the paintings draw attention to two different aspects of the same church: the austere appearance of the façade and the historic paintings inside. This means the church can be understood not only through its architectural style, but also through the artworks attributed to the artist.

Chapel and Medieval Necropolis

The Capela de Santa Eufémia is a small, rectangular chapel with a covered porch containing benches. A medieval necropolis is located nearby. Its rectangular graves were carved into an outcrop of schist. Together, the chapel and necropolis form a protected site recognised as being of historical and archaeological interest. This recognition comes from the Município de Alfândega da Fé. The site brings together a small chapel and an archaeological location; the rectangular graves in the schist offer a different kind of historical reference from façades or paintings.

Sanctuary, Frescoes and Landscape Views

In the surroundings of Sendim da Serra stands the neoclassical Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Jerusalém, whose construction is dated to 1901. A viewing balcony has been built around the sanctuary. From there, visitors can look out across valleys of pine forests, olive groves and cultivated farmland. The view thus brings together woodland, olive groves and cultivated fields in a landscape that differs from the architectural details of the churches and chapels.

The art inside the sanctuary adds another distinct point of interest: it houses restored 17th-century frescoes. One depicts the meeting of Joachim and Anne at the Golden Gate; another shows the Crucifixion of Christ with Nossa Senhora and São João Evangelista. Unlike the six oil paintings in the Igreja Matriz, these are frescoes depicting two named scenes. The sanctuary is dated to 1901, while the frescoes date from the 17th century—two different periods associated with the same place.

Two Hiking Trails, Different Points of Reference

The two trails described also differ in their respective points of reference. The Trilho da Gouveia runs partly through the areas of the Freguesias of Gouveia, Sendim da Serra and Cabreira. The Trilho das Capelas leads to the Capela de Santa Eufémia. The first trail therefore passes through several named Freguesias; the chapel is the designated destination of the second. When choosing between them, you can consider whether you prefer a route through several areas or a specific named destination.

Discover more destinations: Gebelim, Eucisia, Ferradosa, Colmeais, Sambade.

Back to the main travel overview: Alfândega Da Fé.