Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Viseu > Penedono > Beselga > Ceireira
The Ceireira Devotion Memorial is located in Beselga, municipality of Penedono, within the urban area of Ceireira. It is situated on the first floor of Casa da Paz (House of Peace), a building located immediately behind the Mother Church of Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). Its central location allows for a direct connection to the life and history of the community that created and preserves it, being in the heart of the area that has been associated with the craft of the 'ceireiros' for centuries.
This space was conceived as a museological nucleus, rather than a traditional museum, and is dedicated to safeguarding memories. It was born from the initiative of local figures connected to the parish, with the aim of preserving and sharing a vast collection of objects and narratives that, over the centuries, shaped the life and identity of the community. The memorial seeks to give a contemporary presence to past experiences, making them understandable and relevant to today's visitors, through a journey that reveals the religious and cultural identity of the 'ceireiros'.
A central section of the memorial is dedicated to the craft of the 'ceireiro', a traditional activity that profoundly marked the identity of the people of Beselga. This space illustrates the “odyssey” of these workers who, throughout history, travelled vast regions of the country, from door to door, selling the goods they produced. It is a tribute to the resilience and ingenuity of people who, through their work, shaped not only their livelihood but also the fame of their land. An extensive backlit panel complements this narrative, with photographs and texts that contextualize the geographical and human environment of the region, from the Late Middle Ages.
The Memorial also explores the community's profound connection to faith and tradition, through different thematic sections. One of these gathers a unique collection of objects linked to the Church and Liturgy, which sustained worship and religious practice over time. Another focuses on the devotion to Our Lord of the Steps, a living and cherished reference, deeply rooted in the people of Ceireira, whose annual pilgrimage is a moment of great community celebration. Finally, the Popular Religiosity section presents objects that express a more intimate and personal relationship with the sacred, reflecting the daily beliefs and customs of the population. Together, these areas offer a comprehensive view of how faith and traditions intertwined with the daily life of this land.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.9412294,-7.4265631
Coordinates DMS: 40°56'28.4"N 07°25'35.6"W
Weather Beselga
On-duty Pharmacy Beselga
