This walk will introduce us to the town of Viana do Alentejo. A land with history, surrounded by a typical Montado landscape, full of points of interest, such as the beautiful Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aires. As well as this point of interest, we'll visit the Castle, the Mother Church, the Picaveú Rattle Workshop and, as part of our easy, family-friendly walk, we'll also pass through the Serra de São Vicente and Pedreiras. Another event not to be missed!

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aires

As we go through the pages of the history of the Shrine of Our Lady of Aires, we realise that it has always been a place of passage and a meeting place for the Catholic faith. Numerous groups of pilgrims flocked to the shrine in their faith, coming from lands such as Alvito, Alcácer do Sal, Vidigueira, Cuba, Beja, Torrão, Montemor-o-Novo, Évora and Vila de Frades, during the festive periods in September and October.

Viana do Alentejo Castle

Classified as a national monument since 1910, the architectural complex of the Castle of Viana do Alentejo is made up of the walled structure and a series of religious spaces inside it: the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Anunciação, the Misericórdia Church of Viana do Alentejo, the Chapel of Santo António and the former chapel of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, now the interpretation centre for the complex. While some historical sources place the genesis of this structure in the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), dating from the same period as the granting of the town's first charter (1313), more recent research seems to point to a later construction.

Parish Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation

The church has a Manueline matrix, present in its three naves and eight pillars that support the roof. In addition to the three chapels in the chevet area (Our Lady of the Rosary on the left, the Souls on the right and the chancel in the centre with a representation of the Annunciation scene), the altar of the baby Jesus and the altar of St. Louis of France, both in gilded wood carvings and located near the access to the sacristy, should be highlighted, as well as the altar erected to the memory of Father Luís António da Cruz.

The church's portico is one of the regional references in the Manueline style, featuring royal heraldry elements (royal arms, cross of the Order of Christ and armillary spheres), religious elements such as the vine, applied to a Renaissance matrix, with details on the side pillars designed in the Plateresque style.

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- Castle - Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção - Historic centre of Viana do Alentejo - Picavéu rattle workshop - Sanctuary of Nª Sra d’ Aires - Serra de S. Vicente and quarries - Natural landscapes -