Ferreiros received its foral (charter) in 1514.[4] Originally, it was called Feira-Nova (New Fair), then referring to its importance as the gathering-place for weekly fairs, a period when the populations of the parish and municipality were relatively small.[4]
The patron saint of the parish is Santa Maria, or Nossa Senhora da Expectação (Our Lady of the Expectation), with a parochial cross located in the middle of the historical square that was the place for the weekly squares.[4]
Geography
Ferreiros is situated in the heart of Minho, along the valleys and hills created by confluent of the
Homem and
Cávado rivers, along the flanks of the
Serra do Gerês mountains.[4]
Architecture
Civic
Primary School of Ferreiros (Escola Primaria de Ferreiros), a 20th-century schoolhouse, constructed in the plans of the Repartição das Construções Escolares, a rectangular building with two wings and illuminated by several windows on its facade.[5]
Tower and Honour of the Vasconcelos (Ruínas da Torre e Honra de Vasconcelos/Casa dos Mouros), an example of one of a medieval fortified signeurial residences comprising tower, annex and chapel.[6]
Religious
Chapel of Santa Luzia (Capela de Santa Luzia), a longitudinal chapel with unique nave and presbytery, site of annual pilgrimages on 25 December, that, along with an inscription, hints at its history affiliated with the Order of Malta.[7]
Church of Santa Maria (Igreja Paroquial de Ferreiros/Igreja de Santa Maria).[8]
^Dinis, António (1999), SIPA (ed.),
Capela de Santa Luzia (IPA.00006976/PT010301090014) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 23 July 2013