Guide to Route 2152: Saloio flavors, heritage, and leisure between Antas and Malveira

With three departures on weekdays in each direction, Route 2152 connects Antas to Malveira via the EN 8 and provides access to small localities, traditional restaurants, nature areas, and some of the most characteristic places in the municipality of Mafra.

The route begins in Antas and crosses the rural landscape of Azueira, passing through Caneira Velha, Quinta do Arneiro, and Livramento before reaching Gradil. Along the way, the road alternates between residential areas, farmland, estates, and former stopping places in the Saloio region.

In the second half, the route follows the area of Vila Franca do Rosário, Enxara do Bispo, and Jerumelo before entering Malveira. It is there that the journey takes on a more urban atmosphere, with shops, restaurants, regional sweets, a traditional market, and green spaces concentrated around the final stops.

Notice: the distances indicated are approximate and were estimated from the coordinates provided for the route, the locations of the stops, and the addresses consulted. The route operates only on weekdays, with three departures in the Antas–Malveira direction and three in the Malveira–Antas direction. No information was provided about the fare or operator.

Quick planning

Location	Category	Nearest stop/section	Approximate distance
Chapel of Our Lady of Light	Religious heritage	Lgo Nossa Sra da Luz 3	About 100 to 300 meters
Church of São Silvestre of Gradil	Historical heritage	R Principal 1 or R do Val 35, Gradil	About 200 to 500 meters
Quinta dos Machados	Rural tourism, gastronomy, and leisure	EN 8 22, Gradil	About 300 to 600 meters
Pingo na Brasa	Restaurant	R Principal 1 or R do Val 35, Gradil	About 300 to 600 meters
Fábrica das Trouxas da Malveira	Regional sweets and café	R 25 de Abril 1 or R da Lagoa 11	About 300 to 600 meters
Malveira Parish Wood	Urban park and leisure	Al Prof Dr Leite Pinto 8 or R Do Liceu 1	About 300 to 700 meters
Malveira Market	Traditional commerce and regional products	R 25 de Abril 1 or Al Prof Dr Leite Pinto 8	About 400 to 800 meters
Continente Modelo Malveira	Supermarket and services	EN 8, Malveira	About 200 to 500 meters

Chapel of Our Lady of Light

As the route passes through Azueira, the Largo Nossa Senhora da Luz stop places passengers beside one of the route’s small historical treasures. The chapel has ancient origins and preserves elements associated with sixteenth- and seventeenth-century religious architecture, although the building was reconstructed after the damage caused by the 1755 earthquake.

The exterior is simple, with a modest façade and a small bell tower, but the interior contains tilework, an altarpiece, and an old painting that help explain the temple’s importance in local memory. It is a short visit, suitable for those who enjoy rural heritage and places that are not monumental but are rich in history.

📍 Location: Azueira, beside Largo de Nossa Senhora da Luz.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Lgo Nossa Sra da Luz 3, about 100 to 300 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Religious and historical heritage.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A sixteenth-century chapel with tilework and traces of a former lodging-house function.

Church of São Silvestre of Gradil

Gradil is one of the most interesting points on Route 2152 for those who prefer replacing haste with a short walk through quiet streets and historic buildings. In the center of the locality, the parish church of São Silvestre stands out for its Baroque façade, bell towers, and interior decorated with eighteenth-century tiles.

The temple, classified as a Property of Public Interest, also contains a main altarpiece with gilded woodcarving, stonework elements, and a historic organ built in 1801 by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira. Visiting depends on access to the interior, but even the façade and its urban setting make the stop worthwhile.

📍 Location: Gradil, in the central area of the locality.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R Principal 1 or R do Val 35, about 200 to 500 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Historical, religious, and architectural heritage.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A Baroque church with eighteenth-century tiles, an old altarpiece, and a historic organ dating from 1801.

Quinta dos Machados

Beside the EN 8, in the Gradil area, Quinta dos Machados combines the atmosphere of a historic rural estate with tourism, dining, and wellness services. The estate operates as a rural hotel and occupies an area surrounded by gardens and green spaces, offering a slower-paced break in the middle of the journey.

Its distinguishing features include the Cantinho dos Sabores restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, and areas for events. The property is also associated with nature-based experiences such as sensory trails, birdwatching, and outdoor activities. Visitors who are not staying at the property are advised to confirm access conditions for the services in advance.

📍 Location: Estrada Nacional 8, Gradil, 2665-006 Azueira.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: EN 8 22, in the Gradil area, about 300 to 600 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Rural tourism, gastronomy, nature, and wellness.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A historic estate with a restaurant, gardens, pool, and spa in a rural setting.

Pingo na Brasa

For a gastronomic break in the Gradil section, Pingo na Brasa is a confirmed option on Rua Direita, in the center of the locality. The restaurant focuses on traditional-style cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere, making it suitable for anyone wishing to have lunch or a meal without straying far from the route’s main corridor.

Its location is especially convenient to combine with a visit to the Church of São Silvestre or a walk through the streets of Gradil. Since the route has few departures, it is worth planning the return in advance and confirming the restaurant’s opening hours directly before traveling.

📍 Location: Rua Direita, no. 49, Gradil.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R Principal 1 or R do Val 35, about 300 to 600 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Traditional cuisine restaurant.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: Located in the center of Gradil, allowing visitors to combine gastronomy with a local heritage itinerary.

Fábrica das Trouxas da Malveira

Arriving in Malveira on Route 2152 is also an opportunity to discover one of the municipality’s gastronomic symbols. Fábrica das Trouxas da Malveira produces the famous regional dessert associated with the town, a convent-inspired recipe that began to be sold locally at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The establishment operates as a café and pastry shop, serving traditional trouxas, other sweets, and products to take away. It is an especially interesting stop for anyone who wants to turn a bus journey into a small experience of local flavors, taking home a souvenir with Saloio identity.

📍 Location: Rua Miguel Ferreira, no. 40, Malveira.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R 25 de Abril 1 or R da Lagoa 11, about 300 to 600 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Regional sweets, café, and pastry shop.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: Traditional production of Trouxas da Malveira, a regional sweet associated with the town’s history since 1906.

Malveira Parish Wood

Near the final stops, the Parish Wood is Malveira’s main urban green space. The site offers a wooded area, walking paths, a children’s zone, and facilities for gatherings, serving as a meeting place for residents and visitors.

The space also hosts community events and initiatives, including Fexpomalveira. For those getting off near the school or health center, it is a simple option for walking, resting, or taking an outdoor break before continuing through the town center.

📍 Location: Malveira, near the market area and secondary school.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Al Prof Dr Leite Pinto 8 or R Do Liceu 1, about 300 to 700 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Urban park, nature, and family leisure.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A central green area with a children’s space, gathering areas, and a program of local events.

Malveira Market

Malveira Market is one of the attractions most closely linked to the town’s commercial identity. With roots dating back to the late eighteenth century, the market brings together stalls selling clothing, tools, cheeses, cured meats, vegetables, bread, regional sweets, and other products, keeping alive the tradition of commerce and gathering that shaped the locality’s development.

Thursday is the busiest day, with vendors’ calls, residents and visitors moving through the market, and a popular-market atmosphere. Since Route 2152 operates only on weekdays, the market can be visited precisely on its traditional day, provided passengers check the schedules of the three available departures to organize the outbound and return journeys.

📍 Location: Largo da Feira, Malveira.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: R 25 de Abril 1 or Al Prof Dr Leite Pinto 8, about 400 to 800 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Traditional commerce, regional products, and local culture.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A historic market traditionally held on Thursdays, with strong ties to Saloio culture.

Continente Modelo Malveira

For those using the route for practical reasons, Continente Modelo Malveira is the main large-scale shopping point identified near the final section. The store is located on Estrada Nacional 116 and includes a supermarket, café, bakery, butcher, fishmonger, grocery section, and Continente kitchen service.

Its proximity to the main road makes it useful both for residents and for anyone who needs to stock up before continuing their journey. The supermarket also offers parking, Wi-Fi, and convenience services, although it is important to confirm the exact walk from the stop used.

📍 Location: Estrada Nacional 116, 2665-551, Malveira.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: EN 8 (Malveira), about 200 to 500 meters away.
🏷️ Category: Supermarket, food, and services.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A broad range of shopping and complementary services, including a café, bakery, and prepared-food kitchen.

Route 2152 works best as a weekday discovery itinerary: get off in Gradil to combine heritage, a restaurant, and rural tourism; stop in Azueira to visit the Chapel of Our Lady of Light; or continue to Malveira, where the market, regional sweets, shops, and green areas are concentrated near the final stops. Since there are only three departures in each direction, it is best to check the chosen schedule in advance and calculate the walking time between the stop and each destination.

Guide to Route 2152: Saloio flavors, heritage, and leisure between Antas and Malveira