Silveiras tells its story through clearly distinct layers of time: a menhir and a cromlech from prehistory, church art and ruins from the 15th and 16th centuries, and an annually organised nativity scene. When choosing when to travel, the nativity scene offers a particularly clear timeframe: it is open to visitors every year from 1 December to 6 January. Alongside it, archaeology, churches and crafts offer different thematic highlights. You can first decide whether the seasonal tradition or the older monuments and traces of art will be the main focus of your visit.
Prehistoric Monuments
The Menir na Courela da Casa Nova, also known as the Menir da Courela do Guita, was shaped from a large block of granite. It is dated to between the middle of the 4th and the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. The menhir is classified as a National Monument and lies 100 metres from the EN 4. Its name, material, dating and distance from the road provide specific details to help you understand this monument.
The Cromeleque dos Cuncos was built during the same broad period, between the middle of the 4th and the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. It was discovered in 1984. For both monuments, construction or shaping dates to the same prehistoric period; for the cromlech, by contrast, 1984 refers to a much later date. This clearly distinguishes the date of the monument from the date of its discovery.
Churches and Traces of Art
The ruins of the Church of Santo Aleixo date from the first third of the 16th century. The church also preserves remnants of a 16th-century fresco altarpiece. Its three panels depict scenes from the life of the patron saint. This church site therefore brings together the surviving architectural remains and the preserved sequence of images; the panels give religious art a distinct narrative dimension.
Another historic site is the striking ruins of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Natividade de Safira, preserved from the former parish of Nossa Senhora da Natividade de Safira. The church was built in the 15th century and extended in the 16th century. Its building history therefore encompasses an original phase and a later extension. Together with Santo Aleixo, Safira offers a distinct perspective on church history: here, you can trace the sequence of construction and expansion, while Santo Aleixo also preserves the three panels of the fresco altarpiece.
Tradition and Crafts
The Presépio das Silveiras is organised every year jointly by the parish associations and is open to visitors from 1 December to 6 January. If you would like to plan your trip around this tradition, schedule your stay within this period. The nativity scene is thus a seasonal highlight, distinct from the prehistoric dates and historic building phases.
Silveiras crafts include work in wood, cork and woven materials, as well as embroidery. These crafts complement the archaeological and church-related themes with traditional materials and techniques. If you do not want to focus your trip solely on monuments and church art, you can also explore this cultural highlight.
Route and Further Local History
Silveiras is also home to a zoological park for ostriches. If you plan to visit, check in advance whether visits are possible. Route P22 – Silveiras is 10.6 kilometres long and designated for hiking and mountain biking. It is not signposted, so check the route and local conditions before setting out.
The history of the settlement offers another perspective on its past: Silveiras is said to have developed from the “Vendas” that spread along the former Estrada Real, now the N4. This historical interpretation describes a different layer of time from the prehistoric monuments. When planning your trip, you can choose between archaeological traces, church and craft culture, a seasonal tradition and an outdoor route.
Discover more destinations: Landeira, Vendas Novas.
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