Casas Novas: Pilgrimage Tradition and Estate History

Casas Novas invites you to explore religious tradition, rural heritage and a pilgrimage route as distinct travel interests. Pilgrimages take place in the surrounding area; the estate itself is associated with historic architecture and former agricultural use. The PR9 Rota de Peregrinação do Senhor dos Aflitos adds a route through Montado woodland, pastureland and granite outcrops to these themes. Cultural history and the experience of the landscape thus form two clearly distinct focal points for planning a holiday.

Pilgrimage and architectural history

Pilgrimages to the Santuário de Nosso Senhor dos Aflitos take place in the area around Casas Novas throughout the year. There is also an annual festival with the character of a Romaria. The tradition therefore has both a year-round and an annual aspect: if you are planning your trip around the festival in particular, you should check its date.

The sanctuary’s large church was built in 1815 and preserves an older chapel dating from before 1720. Inside are votive offerings made by the faithful. The sequence of dates highlights the older chapel as an earlier phase of construction; the votive offerings complement the architectural perspective with a glimpse of religious practice.

Estate and rural heritage

The Casas Novas estate includes an Alentejo Monte building, constructed at the end of the 19th century. Casas Novas is also one of the agricultural estates that served agricultural and livestock production. Together, these details describe two aspects of the estate’s history: an architectural trace and the former role of estates in rural economic life. Visitors interested in local history will therefore find another topic alongside the religious architectural history—the connection between the estate, its buildings and production.

Responsibility for the estate is provisionally attributed to the Elias Martins family, particularly to the charitable farmer José Elias Martins (1886–1966). This tentative attribution adds a biographical thread to the history of the estate’s construction and use.

The PR9 and its landscape

The PR9 Rota de Peregrinação do Senhor dos Aflitos is a pilgrimage route through rural landscapes of Montado woodland and pastureland. The route passes through Montado fields and by granite outcrops; Casas Novas is listed on the PR9. Alongside its religious purpose, the route therefore offers a clearly described landscape that shapes the experience.

A detour to the Barragem do Campino is possible on the PR9; the additional round trip is about five kilometres. Another destination on the PR9 is the Barragem do Zé dos Cães, where impressive hydraulic structures can be seen. This presents two different planning choices: an optional detour with an approximate additional distance, and a destination whose hydraulic structures shift the focus from the landscape route to engineering.

Planning your stay

Check the festival date before booking. If your stay is centred on the PR9, the main consideration is the route distance you want to cover, particularly whether you would like to include the possible detour to Campino.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Santo Aleixo, Nisa, Chança, Marvão, Fadagosa, Beirã, Vale do Peso, Fortios.

For the higher-level travel overview: Portalegre.