OLEIROS
39.9186° N; 7.9128° W
Oleiros is a Portuguese village belonging to the district of Castelo Branco, statistical region of the Center and sub-region of Beira Baixa, part of the traditional province with the same name, with less than 2 000 inhabitants.
It is the seat of the Municipality of Oleiros with an area of 471.09 km² and 4,900 inhabitants (2021), subdivided into 10 parishes. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipality of Fundão, to the east by Castelo Branco, to the south by Proença-a-Nova, to the southwest by Sertã and to the northwest by Pampilhosa da Serra.
Parishes
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 10 civil parishes (freguesias):
Álvaro
Amieira - Oleiros
Cambas
Estreito - Vilar Barroco
Isna
Madeirã
Mosteiro
Orvalho
Sarnadas de São Simão
Sobral
OLEIROS - PARISHES
In the territory of this municipality, the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, or, simply, Order of Malta, as this ancient Religious and Military Order is known today. This is why the municipality's coat of arms bears the cross of that Order.
Economy
In the primary sector, chestnut and medronho are the most important products of the local economy. In some parishes, part of the families' income comes from chestnuts. The municipality of Oleiros was once one of the main chestnut producers.
There is also the production of Callum wine.
MOTHER CHURCH OF OLEIROS
39º 55' 1” N; 7º 54' 49" W
It is the oldest building in Vila de Oleiros and considered its “Jewel in the Crown”. It is dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Conceição and has undergone changes over the years. Construction began in 1532 during the reign of King Manuel I and was only completed in 1715, undergoing repairs during the process. Its main facade is sober, not showing all the splendor that it has inside. It is supported by six Doric columns from the convent that existed in the Monastery.
The ceiling of the central nave is lined with 30 polychrome wooden coffers, each of which is a tribute to Our Lady, featuring a painting of a symbol extracted from an Old Testament scripture. It has five altars with spiral columns, decorated with vine leaves and birds pecking at bunches of grapes.
The two altars that flank the crossing arch are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Carmo. On this altar is exposed a tabernacle made of polychrome wood, which shows the image of the Risen Christ on the door. On the side walls are the altars of Nossa Senhora de Fátima and São Pedro. It is in the latter that you can find the stone image of Our Lady of the Rosary, dating from the 15th century.
The chancel's ceiling is lined with panels painted on canvas, alluding to the coffered ceilings in the church's central nave. Each screen thus presents one of the symbols painted on the coffers. In the central part, a Maltese cross is represented.
The side walls are lined with figurative ceramic panels from the 18th century, depicting a scene of expulsion from paradise and, on the opposite wall, a scene of tranquility and well-being. The main altar is covered with Hispano-Arabic tiles from the 16th century.
It also has an elegant throne, a unique tabernacle and some of the images from this valuable collection, namely a polychrome wooden image of Nossa Senhora da Conceição.
The twisted columns are decorated with cherubs, vine vines, bunches of grapes and birds with long tails.
MISERICÓRDIA CHURCH OF OLEIROS
39º 55' 2” N; 7º 54' 50” W
Built in the 16th century, during the reign of King Manuel I, it is considered a Public Interest Property. On the façade we can see the date 1714, which probably indicates the year in which the reconstruction works were completed. On the two facades of the Church (main and south elevation), there are two exterior altars that serve as “stations” on the occasion of the processional experience of the Passos. The main façade displays a stone niche containing a representation of Senhor dos Passos. The entrance to this Church is preceded by the popularly known “godfather”, which is walled with an iron border and is lined with small stones rolled from the riverside.
The interior of the Church consists of a nave, whose ceiling is lined with sober polychrome wooden coffers, which is separated from the chancel by a cross arch in stone. At the mouth of the main altar dressing room, there is an impressive oil painting on canvas, dated 1812, which represents the Visitation of Our Lady to Saint Isabel. This work is only exhibited at certain times, and is kept inside the altar for the rest of the year. Here are gathered the life-size images of S. João Evangelista, Nossa Senhora das Dores, Senhor dos Passos and Senhor Morto.
"AÇUDE PINTO" RIVER BEACH
CAMPING (2015)
