SÃO GIÃO
40° 20' 12" N; 7° 47' 58" W
São Gião is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, with an area of 14.19 km² and 341 inhabitants (2021 census). Its population density is 24 inhabitants/km².
It was the presentation curate of the commentator of S. Tomé de Penalva, having belonged to the town of Penalva de Alva, until the administrative reform operated by the decree of November 6, 1836, having moved to the municipality of Sandomil, which was later extinguished in 1855, and became part of the municipality of Seia. From January 13, 1898, he was transferred to the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital.
Its name is a hagiotoponym derived from São Julião, coming from its patron saint, with the time changed to Santulhão giving rise to the current name.
It belongs to the Mountain Villages network.
Location
In geographical terms, it is located at 40.3330° N, 7.8000° W at an altitude of 704m (Pinhal Interior Norte, a sub-region of the Central Region, in the province of Beira Alta). It is located in the Alva Valley, a valley carved by the Alva River, a tributary of the Mondego River (it originates in the Serra da Estrela and flows into Figueira da Foz), as well as between the Vide and Alvoco rivers (a tributary, in turn, of the Alva River). Located at the confluence of Serra da Estrela and Serra do Açor.
It is located on the eastern border of the district of Coimbra (with the district of Guarda), thus belonging to the Beiras region (in a specific way it belongs to Beira Litoral as well as Beira Interior - there is a contradiction in criteria in the classification of the municipality in relation to to these two regions, due to their central location, which is why different sources refer to different classifications). It is the easternmost parish in the municipality and the District.
It is approximately 10 km away from the municipal seat (Oliveira do Hospital) and 84 km from the district seat (Coimbra), being around 300 km from Lisbon.
Places
This parish is made up of several localities:
Alentejo
Barroca
Covão
Chã
Mosteiro (parcialmente)
Parceiro
Rio de Mel
São Gião
Culture and Heritage
Taking advantage of the abundant natural resources of this mountainous area, abundant in forests and pine forests, as well as water resources (which led to the construction of numerous fountains, and the prospecting of rivers and streams), it has a camping park and river beaches (Alva river) classified with two stars offering hotel, apartments, camping, restaurant, among others, as well as housing for rural tourism in the parish.
It is also possible to visit natural caves, such as the Penedo da Moura caves.
In the area between São Gião and the place of Carvalha, the São Gião Radio Telescope is located; At 9.3 meters in diameter, it is currently the largest private radio telescope in mainland Portugal, and is used for educational purposes and astronomical research.
It has a vast and rich architectural heritage, such as:
Main Church of São Gião (also called Beiras Cathedral), Parish Church of São Gião (1756-1795);
Roman-style arch bridge inside the town and triple-arch bridge accessing the town (Municipal Road M515), over the River Alva;
Cruzeiro do Calvário (1878);
Solares (such as the Solar dos Viscondes de Valongo, 1737, Solar Gerty Tomás da Costa, 18th century, and the Solar das Massas, destroyed by fire in October 2017);
Chapel of the Lord of the Afflicted (1853);
Chapel of the Lady of Creation (17th century);
Chapel of São Sebastião (16th century);
Chapel of Santo Estevão, in Rio de Mel;
Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, in Rio de Mel;
Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Livramento, in Rio de Mel;
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Fé, Rio de Mel;
Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Febres, in Parceiro;
Chapel of São Caetano, in Parceiro;
Capela das Alminhas, Malhada;
Front of the Chapel of the Viscounts of Valongo (18th century, only the front remains, transformed into a residence)
Alminhas (such as Alminha da Ponte, Alminha do Castelo or Alminha da Lameira);
Fountains (Fonte da Lameira - the oldest in the town, dating from 1833 -, Fonte do Castelo - 1933 -, Fonte da Igreja, Fonte do Senhor dos Aflitos, Fonte de São Sebastião, Fonte do Fundo do Povo, Fonte do Ribeiro, Fonte da Escola, Fonte do Chafariz, Fonte de Louro);
Possible traces of a Roman road .
The town, made up of 488 buildings, is divided into 2 areas: the old area, to the south and close to the center (where the Main Church is located), traditional, made up essentially of rustic stone and mud houses, and where there are the old and opulent mansions of wealthy families, and a more recent area, to the North, with more modern buildings.
The Main Church was built in 1795, in the times of D. Maria I, and the facade was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century (1916) due to its collapse. Its style is baroque, with the ceiling made up of 102 panels, attributed to Pascoal Parente, an Italian then living in Coimbra. The altarpieces boast gilded carvings.
It has several annual festivals in honor of various saints, associated with their respective chapels. In São Gião, 3 saints are honored: on the 20th of January (Sunday closest to this date) São Sebastião is honored, in August (4th Sunday of the month) the patron saint Senhor dos Aflitos is honored, and on the 15th November (Sunday closest to this date) is the Lady of Creation's turn to host the celebrations. In Rio de Mel, Senhora dos Remédios is celebrated at the end of May/beginning of June, and in Parceiro, celebrations in honor of Senhora das Febres take place in June. Each festival is held in a different chapel, associated with the respective patron saint.
The local economy is supported by commerce, textile and civil industry, forestry (with a focus on resin), agriculture, livestock and dairy farming.
Accessibility
This location is only accessible by road. The main access road is Nacional 17 (N17), future IC7. The closest expressways are IP3 (which can be accessed via IC6 or IC12). The Municipal Road to access the parish is the M515 (however, it is necessary to cross the municipal roads M506 and M514 to access the N17 and the municipal headquarters).
The nearest railway line is the Beiras line, with the region served by stops and stops at Nelas (30 km, North), Carregal do Sal (30 km, Northwest) and Santa Comba Dão (40 km, Northwest) .
The nearest airfields are in Coja (municipality of Arganil, to the Southwest) and Pinhanços (municipality of Seia, to the Northeast), both approximately 20 km from the parish.
It is accessible from the A1 motorway, leaving at Coimbra Norte to take the IP3 towards Viseu. After 30 km, and at the confluence of the Alva River with the Mondego River (near the Aguieira dam), exit onto the IC6 (direction Covilhã, Guarda, Oliveira do Hospital), which ends, after 14 km, on the N17 (IC7) where whether to continue until close to Oliveira do Hospital (OH). After reaching the junction for OH, continue straight on the N17, and after 200m, turn right onto the M506 road, towards S.Gião and Vale do Alva. This road ends at a junction with the M514 road, and you should continue straight on (Sentido S.Gião and not Penalva de Alva). When you reach the edge of the municipality, you will find a new intersection, turning right onto the M515 (Ponte Romana), towards S.Gião and Parque de Campismo. After 2 km you will find yourself in S.Gião (giving this road - M515 - a connection to the rest of the parish, as well as to the N230 road, towards Covilhã).
Also search:
Beiras Cathedral
Chapel of the Lady of Creation
Chapel of the Lord of the Afflicted
Chapel of Saint Sebastian
Calvary Cruise
Great Alva Route (GR 51)
